August 17, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan government has confirmed it will only return the refundable portion of the financial deposits submitted by the Adani Group for the proposed Mannar Wind Power project, according to Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody.
Speaking at a briefing held at the Government Information Department two days ago (15), Minister Jayakody clarified the state’s position following speculation around potential compensation claims by the Indian conglomerate.
He noted that whilst deposits had indeed been placed by Adani with the Sustainable Energy Authority in relation to the renewable energy initiative, only those deemed refundable under existing guidelines would be repaid.
In response to a query regarding whether the Adani Group had requested reimbursement for broader preliminary expenses or initial investments, the Minister firmly stated that the government’s obligation extended solely to refundable sums.
He further explained that major infrastructure projects typically involve both refundable and non-refundable financial commitments — a standard practice within the energy sector and public-private project frameworks.
The Sustainable Energy Authority, which has overseen administrative aspects of the project to date, has been instructed to carry out a detailed review to assess and confirm the specific amounts that qualify for reimbursement. The aim is to ensure transparency and adherence to legal and procedural norms in managing project finances.
The Mannar Wind Power project had previously drawn public and political attention, both due to its scale and the strategic involvement of a foreign entity.
