Saudi dates for Lanka

Dharma Sri ABEYRATNE

COLOMBO: The Saudi Arabian Government donated 150 metric tonnes of dates worth US $ 150,000 to the Government yesterday for the distribution among Muslims during the fasting month.

The dates were handed over to Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Development Minister A.H.M. Fowzie by a special representative of the Saudi Arabia Finance Ministry, Fahad Faleh Ali Otaibi at the Petroleum and Petroleum Development Ministry.

“The consignment was cleared without paying taxes on President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s advice, the Minister said.