Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan calls on Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

NEW DELHI: Indian state-owned oil companies have shown interest to work in all streams of oil and gas sector in Sri Lanka.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan conveyed this when he called on visiting Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe here yesterday, an official statement said.

Wickremesinghe is on his first official visit to India after assuming the charge.

"Pradhan apprised the Sri Lankan Prime Minister about the existing cooperation in oil and gas sector between India and Sri Lanka.

"He also apprised him about the willingness of Indian public sector companies to work in all streams of oil and gas sector in Sri Lanka," the statement added.

Indian Oil Corp (IOC) operates 183 petrol pumps in Sri Lanka and has about 20 per cent market share.

Pradhan was accompanied by Oil Secretary K D Tripathi and senior officials from Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Ministry of External Affairs.