Defence secretary in Russia to buy ship

 

The team also includes additional secretary Sarath Kumara and Navy chief Vice Admiral S.S. Ranasinghe.

The ship is to be bought for 158 million US dollars, the balance remaining from a 500 m USD under the credit scheme signed during the Rajapaksa regime.

The purchase is to be made through Rostec, an affiliate of the state-owned Rosoboronexport, which has been blacklisted by the US Security Council.

The local agent for the Russian company too, is presently in Russia, according to Rivira.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is also to buy 10 reconditioned MI 171 HS helicopters, two IC 76 MD cargo carriers and six SU 30 fighters through Rostec.

The SU 30 fighter jets had been manufactured in 1996 for India, which has later sold them to Belarus.

- Srilankamirror