Sri Lanka university deal to CATIC

Nov 04, 2011 (LBO) - Sri Lanka has given an 89.





55 million deal to build a technology school to China National Aero Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) after larger hotel deal was cancelled over land sale dispute.



CATIC was given the contract to re-located the Institute of Technology of Sri Lanka's Moratuwa University to Homagama, another area a little of the capital Colombo.

Information minister Keheliya Rambukwelle had said the deal was not related to the cancellation of a 500 million dollar hotel project in Colombo's Galle Face seafront.

The deal was cancelled after President Mahinda Rajapaksa ordered an outright sale of land to be made into a lease.

The opposition has also protested the deal saying it was done without tendering.

Sri Lanka's administration is trying to find alternate land for the Chinese group, which had already made a 54 million US dollars advance payment.