The government has decided to temporarily suspend construction of two wind power plants and another energy project in Mannar, despite tenders being called and contracts awarded. The decision was taken during a discussion chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday, focusing on the nation’s energy requirements and the projects’ economic significance.
The projects in question include a 20 MW plant already under construction and a proposed 50 MW plant. Officials agreed to develop a framework to address issues raised by local communities regarding the wind power developments.
President Dissanayake stressed that energy is a national resource belonging to all citizens, and its cost impacts household bills, industrial production, foreign investment, and the wider economy. He reiterated the government’s readiness to discuss the projects’ effects on livelihoods and address public concerns, while warning that prolonged delays could result in missed economic opportunities and hinder investor confidence.
