12 October 2021 12:00 am
By Sandun A. Jayasekera
Government spokesman, Mass Media Minister Dulles Alahapperuma admitted yesterday that the Government of Oman had demanded a prime land in Colombo from the Sri Lanka government to set up an energy development project, after pledging a parcel of credit of US$ 3.6 billion to Sri Lanka to purchase fuel for the next 12 months. The government has not taken a decision on this request and the cabinet has not discussed the request as yet, he added. “Yes, there has been a request for a land parcel from Oman to construct an energy development project. The land is not intended to offset the interest of the loan either,” Minister Alahapperuma said.
The conditions of the loan agreement provide the Government a grace period of five years and a repayment period spanning 20 years. The US$ 3.6 billion will provide funds for Sri Lanka to purchase fuel for a period of 12 months from Oman, he said.