Minister of Petroleum Industries Hon. Susil Premjayanth visits Russia
26th-31st October 2011
“Bi-lateral relationship over five decades took a new phase with the commencement of discussions concerning energy and petroleum with the pioneer of the gas and energy industry in Russia, Gasprom Company” said H.E. Udayanga Weeratunga the Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Russian Federation at the reception held in honor of Hon. Susil Premjayanth, Minister of Petroleum Industries in Sri Lanka.
Minister Premjayanth headed a delegation with the Presidential Advisor Mr. Saliya Wickramasuriya and Rumi Jaufer, Managing Director- Tourism Promotion Bureau on the 26th of October
Hon. Minister met with senior officials of the Gasprom International B.V, to continue the discussions commenced by H.E the President in 2010 in Moscow and later in St. Petersburg along with the International Economic forum in 2011.
A cordial reception was held on the 28th October in honor of the Minister and to welcome the delegation and Gasprom officials. H.E Udayanga Weeratunga emphasized the efforts taken by the Embassy of Sri Lanka to assist Russian tourists and to promote tourism in the country. He specially mentioned about the workshops and seminars conducted to the tour operators and facilitation of the media delegations to Sri Lanka and the outcomes of them, the tour guide CD prepared by the embassy was shown in addition. The ambassador presented a copy of the CD and the biography of H.E. the president written by Mr. Weeratunga to the Hon Minister.
Minister Susil Premjayanth emphasized the progress and the benefits of the outcomes of the discussions. He also said that Gasprom International B.V. agreed to start work on offshore oil exploration in the Mannar basin; initially they will send a team of technician experts for preliminary operations during the next three weeks.
Gasprom, the mother company the world’s largest extractor of natural gas, and the owner of a chain of hotels, agreed to invest $30 million in promoting tourism in assistance of achieving the target of 2.5 million tourists to Sri Lanka by 2016.
On behalf of Gasrpom International B.V, Deputy Director Mr. Alexiy Shebarshyn gave a speech and he also highlighted the effects of bi-lateral discussions and that the company is energized to commence projects in Sri Lanka.
A Dinner organized by Mrs. Uma Weeratunga was served after the reception.
Ex-Deputy Foreign Minister, Deputy Chief of Rus-Nano Mr. Alexander Losyukov, Mr. Alexiy Shebarshyn, Deputy Director, Gasrpom International B.V, senior officials of Gasrpom International B.V, senior officials representing other gas and energy companies, leading Sri Lankan entrepreneurs in Moscow and the staff of the Embassy were present at the occasion.
