MOHAMMED RASOOLDEEN
COLOMBO: Visiting Saudi Arabian delegation representing the Saudi Development Fund(SFD) flagged off two major projects in Sri Lanka to improve facilities at a university and to build a highway project in the Eastern part of the island.
On Tuesday, December 28, Al-Murshed, inaugurated the project “Improvement of Peradeniya-Badulla-Chenkaladi Road.” Highways Minister Johnston Fernando was also present at the opening ceremony.
The Ministry of Highways reconstruct the 151.3 kilometers of A5 main road from Badulla to Chenkaladi at an estimated cost of US$ 140 million. The A5 road from Peradeniya via Badulla to Chenkaladi is one of the major highways linking the Eastern Province to the Central Province is partly funded $ 60 miolion.
On Monday, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the CEO of the Saudi Development Fund, SFD, Sultan bin Abdul Rahman Al-Murshed jointly laid the foundation stone for the Sri Lanka Wyamba University development project which includes a medical faculty which would cost $ 28 million in the Sabaragamuwa province.
The $28 million project is fully funded by the SFD and the project contributes to support education and learning opportunities for some 5000 students annually
The visiting Saudi delegation is led by the SFD CEO Sultan bin Abdul Rahman Al-Murshed which arrived in Colombo on Monday, December 27. On arrival, Al-Murshed was received by the Saudi Ambassador in Colombo Abdulnasser Al-Harthi and finance ministry officials.
The projects are coordinated by the ministry of finance and the SFD through the Saudi mission in Colombo headed by Al-Harthi
Speaking to Arab News, Ambassador Al-Harthi said the estimated cost of the university project is US$28 million. The Saudi Fund for Development has agreed to provide the sum as a concessional loan. “ This project is being implemented at the Kuliyapitiya and Makadura Campuses of the North Western University,” the envoy said .
Rs.1,942 million is expected to be spent for the Kuliyapitiya Campus and Rs.1,973 million for the Makadura Campus while another Rs.262 million has been allocated for the purchase of equipment for the existing faculty building complex.
Harthi said that from the time of its inception, the SFD has been granting loans to the value of $450. It has given 15 development loans to Sri Lanka to build 13 projects in water, health, highways, construction of bridges and education.
