June 27, Colombo (LNW): The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has raised concerns regarding the government’s decision to develop wind power stations in Mannar and Pooneryn in partnership with India’s Adani Green Energy Limited.
At a recent briefing, former SJB MP Ajith P. Perera accused the government, particularly President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera, of engaging in large-scale financial malpractice by granting the wind power project to Adani Green Energy.
Perera highlighted that the government had agreed to purchase power at $0.0826 per KW from the proposed wind power stations to be developed by Adani Green Energy.
He criticised the decision, stating that the project had been awarded without a competitive tender process, resulting in a projected loss of millions of dollars for Sri Lanka over the next 20 years.
In support of his claims, Perera noted that WindForce PLC, which holds a 100% stake in Hiruras Power (Pvt) Ltd, had proposed a wind power project at nearly half the cost quoted by Adani.
WindForce PLC had won a tender from the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to build a 50 MW wind power station in Mannar, offering electricity at $0.0488 per KW.
Perera concluded by asserting that the government’s decision to proceed with Adani Green Energy’s more expensive proposal constitutes a significant financial fraud, potentially costing Sri Lanka over a billion US dollars.
