Govt hopeful of finalizing Hambantota SINOPEC Oil Refinery Project agreement in 1Q 2026

The government is hoping to finalize the agreement related to the SINOPEC Oil Refinery Project in Hambantota in the first quarter of 2026.

This was conveyed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during his brief visit to Sri Lanka.

The meeting was held in a bid to further strengthen bilateral engagement and advance the Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The discussion also focused on enhancing partnership in the areas of trade, investment, development cooperation and tourism.

Meanwhile, Minister Herath has extended deep appreciation to the government and the people of China for the steadfast support extended to Sri Lanka following cyclone Ditwah and requested further support for the second phase of resettlement, relocation and rebuilding, particularly for the restoration of affected infrastructure including identified roads, railways and bridges that are vital to connectivity, economic recovery and daily lives of people, the Foreign Ministry noted.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China has extended a helping hand to Sri Lanka at the earliest opportunity to cope with the devastating cyclone, and believes the Sri Lankan people will overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes at an early date.

Wang said China is willing to enhance exchanges of governance experience with Sri Lanka, expand practical cooperation in various fields, facilitate people-to-people exchanges, further deepen the strategic cooperative partnership based on sincere mutual assistance and everlasting friendship between the two countries, and jointly build a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future.

Minister Wang added that in the face of an increasingly complex and volatile international situation, China will firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, especially small and medium-sized countries, uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and work with like-minded countries to oppose the resurgence of the “law of the jungle,” resist all forms of power politics and bullying, and defend multilateralism and international fairness and justice.

Wang noted that China appreciates Sri Lanka’s long-standing adherence to the One-China principle and is willing to continue supporting Sri Lanka in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions. He added that the two sides can strengthen regional cooperation oriented toward South Asia and jointly promote a more just and equitable global governance system.

Minister Wang had assured China’s fullest support for this initiative and expressed confidence that Sri Lanka will continue its rapid recovery under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He welcomed the people-centric policies of the government and expressed optimism that Sri Lanka is on the right path toward fulfilling aspirations of its people.

Furthermore, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath expressed appreciation for China’s constructive role in international fora and reiterated Sri Lanka’s firm commitment to the One China Policy and China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

During the meeting, both sides also agreed to jointly commemorate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in the year 2027, the Foreign Ministry added.