Categories: Uncategorized

China’s EXIM Bank approves US $ 1bn loan for highway project

Treasury Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga and Chinese Ambassador Cheng Xueyuan exchanging the loan agreement in the presence of Finance Ministry and Chinese Embassy officialsÂ
Â
Â

  • Finance Ministry says this is the single largest loan approved by China’s EXIM Bank to-date
  • Total estimated cost of the project is US$ 1,164 mn
  • This proposed highway is to improve inter-regional connectivity and efficiency of the entire expressway network

Â
China’s Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank) has approved US $ 989 million concessional loan for the Central Expressway Section 1 from Kadawatha to Meerigama.
The Finance Ministry said the loan, which is the single largest loan approved by the China’s EXIM Bank, covers 85 percent of the contract price.
The total estimated cost of the project is US$ 1,164 million.
Section 1 of the CEP will start from Kadawatha where four expressways, namely Outer Circular Highway (OCH) II, OCH III and Colombo-Katunayaka Expressway and the Central Expressway link through the Kadawatha interchange.
This will create an uninterrupted connectivity from Hambantota to Katunayaka or Hambantota to Kandy, linking several provinces and economically-important ports, airports and commercial cities.
This proposed highway will improve the inter-regional connectivity and efficiency of the entire expressway network.
Â
“Since, the implementation of Section 2 of the Central Expressway has already been commenced with financial assistance from local commercial banks, this loan facility from China EXIM Bank will facilitate the speedy implementation of Kadawatha –Meerigama section ensuring the connectivity of the expressway network up to Kurunagala,” Finance Ministry said.
The loan agreement was signed on March 22 by Dr. R. H. S. Samarathunga, Secretary, Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and Cheng Xueyuan, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, Embassy of China in Sri Lanka on behalf of the EXIM Bank of China at the Ministry of Finance in Colombo.
The Finance Ministry said the government has accorded high importance to the development of infrastructure including expressway networks with inter-connectivity as it will directly contribute to the economic growth and will have indirect effects in raising the productivity and efficiency in different economic sectors.
Â

Lankanewspapers

Recent Posts

LNP – What players were signed in the IPL 2025 auction?

Rajasthan Royals roped in star Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga during the…

10 hours ago

LNP – No electricity tariff revision for this year: PUCSL

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) announced that electricity tariffs will remain unchanged…

14 hours ago

LNP – Vocational education key to economic growth, future success: Prime Minister

As a subject, vocational education directly contributes to the economy and should be considered a…

14 hours ago

LNP – Sri Lanka launches new initiatives to attract Indian tourists

Aiming to cash on growing outbound Indian tourists, Sri Lanka and Australia have launched new…

14 hours ago

LNP – President calls on state employees to fulfill people’s aspirations

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that if the current government fails to meet the expectations…

2 days ago

LNP – Discrepancies in issuance of permits to expatriate workers to import electric vehicles

There have been abuses in the issuance of permits for expatriate workers to import electric…

2 days ago