A group of representatives from the Gazprom gas company, the largest Russian owned gas company are in Sri Lanka to discuss the possibilities of exploring for oil in Sri Lanka.
The delegation called on Petroleum Resources Minister Susil Premajayantha at the Ministry yesterday.

Gazprom has expressed interest in oil exploration in Sri Lanka and a delegation from Gazprom company led by its Administrative Director Gulev Valetiy arrived in Sri Lanka to hold discussions with the Petroleum Resources Minister for joint oil exploration purposes. Russian ambassador Vladimir P. Mikhaylov also attended the meeting together with the Russian Gazprom representatives.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa held special discussions with Gazprom International Oil Company chairman Alexi Miller at the Lenexpo auditorium in Saint Petersburg over oil exploration possibilities in the country. The chairman had expressed his interest in helping oil exploration activities.

Subsequently, a team of experts from the gas company arrived here to discuss relevant matters and to check the possibility of using natural gas in the country.