Indonesia to assist Sri Lanka in infrastructure development

Indonesia has expressed willingness to assist in Sri Lanka's infrastructure development as the two countries looked  to boost bilateral cooperation.

According to a Jakarta Post report Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met with  President Widodo on the sidelines of his two-day visit to Hanoi. 

President Jokowi said  Indonesia was committed to support Sri Lanka's railway development. This comes following an interest to import 60 trains from Indonesia. Further Indonesia’s state owned company PT Wijaya Karya is looking to construct a steel bridge in Sri Lanka, the report stated.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo holds a bilateral talk with Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Melia Hotel in Hanoi on Wednesday. The two leaders discussed ways to improve bilateral cooperation.

"Indonesia also offers the ‘complete package’ of cooperation, including the purchase of train facilities and infrastructure, such as railways, stations, depots and the signaling system," Jokowi said.

Jokowi has also called for the establishment of a joint working group to ease bilateral cooperation while also encouraging a feasibility study in a bid to draft a Free Trade Agreement with Sri Lanka.