The Government has not taken a policy decision yet regarding the Colombo Light Rail Transit (LRT) project which was to be implemented with the support of Japan, Director General of the Department of External Resources of the Ministry of Finance, R.M.S.P.S. Bandara said.
He made the remark while responding to a question raised by a journalist during a press briefing held on the signing of the debt restructuring agreement with Japan, which took place at the Finance Ministry today.
R.M.S.P.S. Bandara further said that fresh discussions will be required to be held with the Government of Japan about the LRT project.
The project which was being planned under the Yahapalana Government was later cancelled by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa without any discussion with Japan or its main funding agency Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2021.
Upon coming to power, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe extended an apology to the Japanese Government in May 2023 during his official visit to Tokyo for the cancellation of the project.
However, announcing the resumption of 11 suspended projects in Sri Lanka due to its economic crisis, in 2024, Japanese authorities said that the $1.5 billion LRT project could be considered a new possible future project. (Newswire)