Sri Lanka Begins Talks For $6 Bn Saudi Fuel Credit Line

Sri Lanka’s Environment Minister Naseer Ahamed has begun discussions with the Saudi government for a five-year credit line of US $6 billion per year for supply of fuel on a government to government basis, local media reported. Ahamed, who is also the Sri Lankan president’s envoy to Saudi Arabia, has proposed Saudi investments in Sri Lanka for manufacturing fertiliser, constructing petroleum storage facilities, establishing fuel supply stations, modernizing and expanding refineries, opportunities in mining minerals and promoting renewable energy. During a meeting with Saudi Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Al Khuraiji in Riyadh last week, Ahamed conveyed President Wickremesinghe’s interest to invite Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to visit Sri Lanka. Ahamed speaks Arabic and is an alumnus of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Riyadh.