SL Ambassador commends Saudi Fund for Development on its 50th anniversary

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia O. L. Ameer Ajwad felicitated the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), Sri Lanka’s longstanding development partner on its 50th anniversary celebrations, at a meeting with SFD’s CEO Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad. The anniversary was celebrated under the theme ‘Celebrating 50 Years of Global Impact’. Deputy CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development Eng. Faizal M. Al-Kahtani and Minister / Head of Chancery of the Embassy Mohamed Anas also attended.

Ambassador Ajwad extended his congratulations and appreciation to the CEO Sultan Al-Marshad and the dynamic staff of the SFD for their achievement of 50 years of global impact, and their support for the development projects in Sri Lanka. He also conveyed the appreciation of the Sri Lankan Government to the SFD for continuously funding the ongoing projects in Sri Lanka, despite the recent economic downturn in the country. Ambassador recalled his interactions with the SFD during his earlier stint in the Kingdom from 2000 to 2003 in coordinating the SFD funded projects such as Kinniya bridge, the longest bridge in Sri Lanka, and the Neurotrauma Unit at the Colombo National Hospital. He also assured his continued commitment to further enhance collaboration between Sri Lanka and the SFD in the years ahead.

CEO Sultan Al-Marshad welcomed Ambassador Ameer Ajwad to the Kingdom while thanking him for his remarks. He also reaffirmed Saudi Fund’s continuing support for Sri Lanka’s development programmes.

Established in 1974, the SFD is the main international development arm of Saudi Arabia and it provides soft loans and grants for finance development projects and programmes in developing countries, with a view to improving the living standards of disadvantaged communities and supporting countries most in need.

The Saudi Fund for Development has provided a total amount of concessional soft loan assistance worth of 1.5 billion Saudi Riyals (US$ 438 million) as development assistance to Sri Lanka over the decades. Fifteen different development projects including Colombo Water Supply and Sewerage Project (1981), Kinniya bridge (the longest bridge in Sri Lanka), Nero Trauma unit at the Colombo national hospital, Kalu Ganga Development Project, Medical Faculty of Sabaragamuwa University, Wayamba University Township, Peradeniya – Badulla – Chenkaladi Road have been funded by the SFD under their global development assistance programme.

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