The Minister of Power, Kumara Jayakody, stated that in the future, internationally funded projects, such as power projects, will only be carried out through government-to-government (G2G) agreements and competitive procurement.
He made this statement during the first meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Energy of the First Session of the Tenth Parliament, which was held this week at the Parliament under his chairmanship.
The Minister also mentioned that the wind power project planned with the Adani company has not yet been canceled.
Due to the high pricing of Adani’s power project, the issue was referred to the Cabinet for consideration. At that time, Adani's parent company had sent a letter to the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, stating their intention to withdraw from the project.
However, discussions were later held with Adani’s representative institution in Sri Lanka, after which they informed the government that they were reconsidering the wind power project.
"The government is expecting a response regarding this wind power project within two weeks to the letter that was sent by them, and it has not yet been canceled," the Minister stated during the meeting.
Minister Jayakody further added that if Adani’s representative institution in Sri Lanka gives a negative response, the government will explore alternative options.
Additionally, the committee reviewed existing vacancies in the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), including engineering positions. CEB officials highlighted that many engineers had migrated overseas during the economic crisis, contributing to the staff shortages.
However, Cabinet approval has already been obtained to fill these vacancies in three phases, and recruitment for the first batch is currently underway.
The meeting also addressed key issues, including unexpected power outages and inadequate streetlight maintenance. Officials emphasized that even minor system fluctuations could cause instability, leading to efforts to integrate alternative energy sources such as solar power.
The Committee also stressed the need for local government institutions and the Electricity Board to collaborate on improving streetlight maintenance, recognizing it as a nationally essential issue.
Minister Jayakody announced that a formal policy on the matter would be finalized within two months.
Furthermore, discussions were held regarding various matters related to the Ministry at the provincial, district, and divisional levels. Members of the Ministerial Consultative Committee, including Hon. Members of Parliament participated in the meeting.
The Yala National Park has been closed until further notice in view of the heavy rains experienced in the area, Warden of the park Manoj Vidyaratne said.
Leave Comments