The Japanese government has said it will extend its full assistance towards the setting up of an LNG power plant in Sri Lanka.
Japanese Ambassador Akira Sugiyama gave this assurance when he met Passenger Transport Management and Power and Energy Minister Mahinda Amaraweera at his Ministry and held discussions with him on Monday (9).
The Japanese Ambassador who was accompanied by the Embassy’s First Secretary Chaihara Hoshiai and Second Secretary Kenichi Kakeya held detailed discussions about the setting up of the LNG project, a media statement issued by the Passenger Transport Management Ministry.
It was decided that construction work would be launched during the first quarter of next year and the entire construction work on the project would be completed in 2022. The Japanese Ambassador also informed Minister Amaraweera that the Japanese government had already agreed to build a light railway transit project to eliminate vehicle congestion in Colombo in keeping with the proposal made to Japan by Minister Amaraweera when he attended the G7 Summit in 2016.
Minister Amaraweera said Sri Lanka was grateful to the Japanese government for acting in accordance with the friendly relations existing with Sri Lanka.
He also recalled that Japan had been one of the first nations to respond with assistance whenever Sri Lanka faced any natural calamity. The Minister also requested Japan to assist Sri Lanka in finding a lasting solution to its power crisis and eliminating vehicle congestion in the city.
The statement said that during the discussions the Minister said that the launching of work on the Kerawalapitiya LNG plant due to be completed in 2022 was already behind schedule and as Minister in charge, he would take all possible steps to start work on the project.
The country had to face power crises from time to time due to the delay caused to the project since 2016.
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