Japan's infrastructure diplomacy in Sri Lanka outpaces China's
MARWAAN MACAN-MARKAR
COLOMBO -- Japan's decision to refinance the expansion of Sri Lanka's international airport -- a flagship project dogged by corruption and the country's recent fiscal meltdown -- has pushed it ahead of China in the South Asian nation's postcrisis recovery efforts.
The country's airport and aviation agency, Airport and Aviation Services, is reviewing bids submitted in March by prospective developers to upgrade the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), said official and diplomatic sources familiar with Tokyo's decision to reengage with Sri Lanka after lifting its earlier suspension of the loan.
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