Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath says Sri Lanka has proposed the establishment of a countrywide electric vehicle (EV) charging network with the support of the Chinese government.
In a social media post, the Minister said the proposal was discussed during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, held today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Minister Herath noted that the Ambassador stated China would first assess the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah before deciding on the areas in which assistance could be extended.
During the discussions, the Foreign Minister also emphasized the urgent need for support to repair railway lines and bridges damaged by severe flooding. The Chinese Ambassador reportedly agreed to immediately convey these concerns to the Chinese government.
Highlighting Sri Lanka’s growing imports of electric vehicles from China and other international markets, Minister Herath proposed prioritising the establishment of EV charging stations islandwide. He added that such infrastructure would be vital, especially as the government plans to introduce more electric buses in the future.
According to the Minister, Ambassador Qi Zhenhong responded positively to the proposal and agreed to brief the Chinese government on Sri Lanka’s request.
