SL mulls buying Russian oil and fertilizers

• Govt. also contemplating on buying locomotives, railroad cars, and spare parts from Russia

The Sri Lankan government is seeking Russian cooperation in multiple sectors, namely, tourism, air traffic and locomotive construction, besides eyeing crude from Moscow.  

Colombo is negotiating a deal to buy discounted crude from Moscow, Sri Lankan Minister of Transport and Highways and Minister of Mass Media Bandula Gunawardena told Sputnik on Sunday.  

“Sri Lanka today does not buy Russian oil and gas, but this issue is on the agenda of the Ministry of Power and Energy of our country, and in case of successful completion of discussions on this topic, a mutually beneficial agreement can be reached. Our authorities will discuss this issue with Russia,” the minister said.  

Gunawardena added that Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Janitha Liyanage was still in talks with President Vladimir Putin’s government for a previously requested loan for purchasing fuel from Moscow.  

The minister also assured Russia that its ships and personnel will not be arrested due to Western sanctions imposed on Moscow following the launch of its special military operation in Ukraine last February.  

“The Sri Lankan government has given [Russia] the assurance on that subject, that there will be no risk of arrests in the future. I don’t think it can happen again,” Gunawardena noted.  
The minister revealed that Sri Lanka has already lifted the ban on chemical fertilizers and would like to buy them from Russia.  
But he elaborated that the South Asian country would make payments in local currency because it doesn’t have dollars to pay for Russian fertilizer purchases.   

• The minister revealed that Sri Lanka has already lifted the ban on chemical fertilizers and would like to buy them from Russia