Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and MP Namal Rajapaksa stated that Sri Lanka could have secured a more favourable response from Russia on oil procurement earlier if the President had attended the BRICS Summit.

He made these remarks yesterday (28) following a meeting held at the SLPP headquarters in Battaramulla, after appointing organisers for the Colombo District and coordinators representing plantation communities in the Nuwara Eliya District, as well as conveners of a senior citizens and peace judges’ organisation.

Addressing the media, Rajapaksa said that the opportunity to engage directly with Russia on energy matters had been missed when the BRICS Summit invitation was not taken up.

“Had the President attended the BRICS Summit at that time, Sri Lanka could have received a more positive response from Russia regarding oil much earlier. It would not have been necessary to wait until the Russian Deputy Energy Minister visited Sri Lanka to hold discussions. There was an opportunity to engage on energy matters at that stage itself,” he said.

He added, however, that he welcomed the fact that discussions were now taking place, albeit at a later stage.