Japanese assistance to set up LNG plant : PM Wickremesinghe

A liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal is to be set up with Japanese assistance, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today (Jun 21).

Mr Wickremesinghe had made these remarks during discussions with the Japanese Prime Minister's Special Advisor Dr. Hiroto Izumi and his delegation this afternoon.

During discussions it was revealed that the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA)'s expansion project and the Light Railway Transit  (LRT) project too would be carried out with Japan's assistance, the Prime Minister's office said.

Further,  Mr. Wickremesinghe had intimated that the East Container Terminal of the Colombo Port would remain under the ownership of Sri Lanka. However, he noted that Sri Lanka would enter into a joint venture with India and Japan to manage the terminal.

Dr. Hiroto Izumi during discussions had reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to develop East Container Terminal of the Colombo South Harbour as a joint venture partnership.

Further, the Premier had noted that Kandy would be developed while following a similar plan that had been drafted to develop the city of Kyoto in Japan. This would be done to attract tourists while preserving the natural beauty of the area, Mr. Wickremesinghe said.

Talks with the Japanese Prime Minister's Special Advisor had also revolved around matters concerning territorial waters in the Indian Ocean, the Prime Minister's office said.

Ministers Managala Samaraweera, Ravi Karunanayake Kabir Hashim, Malik Samarawickrema, Sagala Ratnayaka, Prime Minister’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, Secretary Treasury Dr. R. H. S. Samarathunga were also present in the meeting.