News
JVP alleges govt. move to sell Kerawalapitya power plant to US company
‘Cabinet approval granted for ‘fraudulent’ deal’
By Saman Indrajith
The JVP yesterday called on the public to rise against what it called the government’s plans to sell the ownership rights of the Kerawalapitiya power plant to a US company.
Addressing the media at the party headquarters, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the government leaders were bent on divesting state ventures..
“The most recent attempt came to light at the last Cabinet meeting when Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa presented a paper to sell the ownership rights of the Kerawalapitiya plant to a US company. The meeting was held via Zoom. The paper seeking the approval of the Cabinet has not been given to other ministers of the Cabinet prior to the meeting. Even at the meeting the paper in question has not been given to other members of the Cabinet. It was orally presented by the Finance Minister. As per his presentation, 40 percent of shares of the Treasury-owned 300MW Kerawalapitiya plant, construction of offshore Floating Storage Regasification Unit and the pipeline system for supplying Liquid Natural Gas to diesel power plants are to be sold to a US company. The powers to decide the conditions of the sale, prices, and the content of the agreement have been vested with the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance. The government has decided to sell off the Kerawalapitiya plant while people are expecting solutions for the economic crisis and COVID-19 pandemic. We learn that Cabinet approval was obtained for the paper”, the JVP leader said, adding that the minister had not been allowed to express their views on it.
“We have a government led by those who are all out to sell national assets. We must defeat these moves. It is difficult to meet the people and explain them the need to stand against this latest move due to the prevailing crisis situation in the country owing to the pandemic. Yet, they must understand that the government is on the fast track of their plans to sell off national assets. People should line up against this. Now the decisions are made to sell off public assets even without presenting a Cabinet paper. This is an unprecedented situation. Not only does the government hide facts from people, it keeps the Cabinet ministers in the dark. If the government cannot present its move to the people and it cannot be discussed openly in the Cabinet, then there has to be something wrong in this deal. This is a fraudulent deal. That is why the government is playing its cards close to its chest. We call on people to line up with us to defeat this move,.”
In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government officers, there’s a possibility of obtaining rupees 10,000/- as an advance for celebrating festivals of Theipongal, Ramazan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Wesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage).
Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in 08 installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed by the Budget 2026 to increase the said festival advance up to rupees 15,000/-.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local governments to revise the relevant provisions so that the festival advance can be increased up to rupees 15,000/- .
As per the approval given by the cabinet meeting held on 02-06-2025, action is being taken at present to offer the underutilized lands/properties of the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Etate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company which are under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure which have been identified under stage one to suitable investors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure to provide following lands/properties on a lease basis to the suitable investors for optimal utilization following the prescribed procurement procedure.
• underutilized lands/properties identified under stage two owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation
Company,
• The Mawarala watte land and the Tea factory 40.48 hectares in extent, located in Matara District belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund.
• The underutilized land of 1,541 hectares in extent of Kondachchi Estate is enjoyed by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
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Festival advance for government officers to be increased
Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
Implementation of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy
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