With Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka on April 5, work on the Sampur power plant is set to begin, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced.
Speaking during the parliamentary debate on the third reading of the budget on Friday, the President stated that this would be PM Modi’s fourth visit to Sri Lanka since 2015.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that the visit will finalize agreements reached during President Dissanayake’s recent trip to Delhi. “We have maintained a close relationship with India. Our first diplomatic visit was to India, where we reached several agreements on bilateral cooperation,” he said.
During the visit, several new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed, alongside the opening of the Sampur power station, signaling further economic collaboration between the two nations.
President Dissanayake also highlighted that his government has successfully restored confidence among businesses, investors, and international financial institutions, transitioning Sri Lanka from economic instability to stability.
He emphasized that Sri Lanka has moved from being a high-risk debtor nation to one with reduced debt risk, while also achieving economic milestones, increasing state revenue, and resuming stalled development projects with foreign assistance.
Additionally, a major initiative is underway to develop a port-centric maritime economy, with the Kerawalapitiya Container Terminal construction being expedited with support from the Asian Development Bank.
