Completed Development AidData Chinese Aid

Chinese Government provides $7.2 million grant for the National Performing Arts Theater Construction Project (Linked to Record ID#71571)

¥7.26M RMB

Funder	China Ministry of Commerce
Recipient Organization	Government of Sri Lanka
Country	Sri Lanka
Start Date	Jan 01, 2004
End Date	Dec 06, 2031
Duration	10,201 days
Number of Grantees	1
Roles	Recipient
Data Source	AidData Chinese Aid
Grant ID	`33230`

Grant Description

On January 1, 2004, Chinese Government and the Government of Sri Lanka signed a $7,263,139 grant agreement for the National Performing Arts Theater Project (captured via Record ID#33230).

Then, on July 8, 2004, the Chinese Government and the Government of Sri Lanka signed an RMB 100 million ($10,857,433) interest-free loan agreement for the National Performing Arts Theater Project (captured via Record ID#71571).

The loan proceeds were drawn from three Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreements (ETCAs) worth RMB 20 million, RMB 30 million, and RMB 50 million that were signed on February 23, 2000, July 30, 2022, and February 11, 2003, respectively. This loan achieved a 100% disbursement rate. Its amount outstanding was RMB 100 million as of June 30, 2022.

The objective of the project was to construct a well-equipped modern theater in Colombo.

The Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre (Sinhala: නෙළුම් පොකුණ මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ රඟහල) — now known as Nelum Pokuna and previously known as the National Performing Arts Theatre — is a performing arts centre in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Yanjian Group was the contractor responsible for project implementation.

Its construction began on May 23, 2008. The theatre opened on December 15, 2011. The building spreads over 14,000 square meters of floor area.

The theatre is equipped with ultra-modern facilities such as an auditorium with 1,288 seats, a library, and training facilities.

The building features two permanent theaters—the main auditorium and an open-air theatre—and the ability to convert the front steps into an additional open-air theatre.

The 690-square-meter moving stage in the auditorium includes the ability to raise and lower the orchestra pit to and from stage level. There are facilities to conduct educational and research activities. Parking for 500 vehicles is also available.

📋 Staff Comments

The Chinese project title is 斯里兰卡国家艺术剧院.
The maturity length and grace period of the interest-free loan from MOFCOM are unknown. For the time being, AidData assumes standard MOFCOM interest-free loan borrowing terms (20-year maturity and 10-year grace period).
The Government of Sri Lanka loan key numbers (corresponding to the 3 ETCAs) are 2000073, 2002076, and 2003077.

📚 Sources & References

China provides aid for construction of arts theater in Colombo
National Performing Art Theatre soon
Financing of the budget 2012
Annual Report 2008
Performance Report 2016
Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre
About LOTUS POND
The leaders of the Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce inspected the first phase of the comprehensive technical cooperation project for Sri Lanka
Foundation stone laying ceremony for the National Arts Theatre Project in Sri Lanka
The signing ceremony of the construction contract for the Sri Lanka National Arts Theatre project was held in Colombo
Magazine 'Communication on China Aid Projects' Reports China-Aided Sri Lanka National Theater
斯里兰卡国家艺术剧院
Officials from the Ministry of Commerce visits Sri Lanka National Performing Arts Theatre Contracted
Rs. 2,430 m Performing Arts Theatre at Nomads Grounds
OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE
PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)
PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
The Nelum Pokuna (Lotus Pond)
中国援建的斯里兰卡国家表演艺术剧院奠基, 2009 Annual Report, ‘Locked-In’ to China: The Colombo Port City Project
China Lanka's fourth largest trading partner - Envoy
Performance Report 2017
CS-DRMS Report 814
The Export-Import Bank of China
Disbursements in 2014 January to December.pdf, 814 Disbursements Jan to Dec 2015
Disbursement from January to December 2016.pdf, 814-1 Annual 2017 for WEB New.pdf
Transactions For the period from to 2019/01/01 2019/12/31, 814 up to Oct 2018.PDF
Transactions For the period from to 2020/01/01 2020/12/31
Transactions For the period from to 2021/01/01 2021/11/30
Actual Disbursement by Transaction Date
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2018
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2019
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2021
Instrument-wise Details of Central Government External Debt obtained under Foreign Law as at 2022/06/30, 2015 Annual Report Ministry of Finance Sri Lanka
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 ST DECEMBER 2020 Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.