A delegation led by Russian Deputy Energy Minister Roman Marshavin has arrived in Sri Lanka today (26) on a three-day official visit. Deputy Minister Marshavin is in Sri Lanka at the invitation of the Government of Sri Lanka.
The delegation was received by Deputy Minister of Economic Development Nishantha Jayaweera and the Russian Ambassador in Colombo, Levan S. Dzhagaryan at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
During the visit, several meetings and discussions are expected to take place, focusing on potential solutions to help address the country’s ongoing energy crisis. Marshavin is to meet President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD), Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando and several other senior government ministers.
According to the Russian News Agency Tass, Marshavin has told reporters that Sri Lanka is interested in supplies of oil and other energy resources from Russia. “Supplies of energy resources. Not merely oil but also the other ones. The volumes are not yet known,” Marshavin has said, before his visit to Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Cabinet Spokesperson, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, said that the government has begun diplomatic discussions with Russia to obtain fuel.
Jayatissa told the post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday (24), he said attention is being focused on securing fuel through government-to-government agreements. “Discussions with Russia are ongoing at a diplomatic level. In the past, we did not have the opportunity to obtain oil from Russia, but we are trying to see whether this can be done through agreements between governments.”
He added that Russia’s Deputy Energy Minister is expected to visit the country soon for further discussions.
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