Sri Lanka President denies influence as Adani controversy hots up

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has denied undue influence over a renewable power plant as a controversy over a project proposed by India’s Adani group allegedly at a high price intensified.

The President’s statement came after Chairman of Ceylon Electricity Board, MMC Ferdinando told parliament’s Committee on Public Enterprises that there had been Presidential intervention on the matter.

“President Gotabaya Rajapaksa categorically stated that he had not at any time given authorisation to award a wind power project in Mannar to any person or any institution,” a statement from the President’s office said.

“The President vehemently denied the statement made by the Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board at the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises in this regard.

At the time Sri Lanka’s state-run Ceylon Electricity Board was expected to call competitive tenders for private power plants.

However last week, in an extraordinary development, the government removed the requirement for competitive tendering to supply power, by changing the law using its parliamentary majority. (Colombo/June12/2022)