News
FSP cries foul over allowing India to have stranglehold over SL power sector
… condemns haste in tying up deals on eve of important national poll
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The government continues to enter into secretive agreements with India, compromising the nation’s economic and political sovereignty, says Pubudu Jayagoda, Education Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP).
Jayagoda told The Island yesterday that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on Tuesday (20) between LTL Holdings Ltd., Sri Lanka, and Petronet LNG Ltd., India, for developing infrastructure related to the storage, regasification, and supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to the ‘Sobadhanavi’ Combined Cycle Power Plant at Kerawalapitiya was detrimental to the country’s energy security.
“People’s attention is now on elections and the government is busy signing vital international agreements, despite the widespread belief that President Ranil Wickremesinghe will not win the election on 21 September. The agreement signed on Tuesday will have devastating consequences for the country’s energy security,” Jayagoda stated.
Jayagoda claimed that the agreement between LTL Holdings and Petronet had stemmed from an unsolicited proposal, with the details not disclosed to the public. Wickremesinghe in his 2023 visit to India had agreed to integrate the energy sectors of the two countries and the agreement at issue was a part of that understanding, he said.
“India has been allowed to control the LNG supply to Sri Lanka without competitive bidding. Now, India has a monopoly. The procurement procedure has been bypassed. It is highly likely that the government has agreed to purchase LNG at prices higher than the market rate, placing an additional burden on the people of this country. It is evident that this agreement was signed under Indian pressure,” the FSP Education Secretary told The Island.
Jayagoda also noted that Sri Lanka was planning to generate 1,000 megawatts of electricity from LNG in the short term, at the Yugadhanavi and Sobadhanavi power plants, as well as some sections of the Kelanitissa power plant, set to operate on LNG.
“India will be the sole supplier for these plants. You can imagine the control this gives India—it’s akin to having the main switch, trip switch, and fuse board of your house installed in the neighbour’s house,” he said.
A number of countries in the region had entered into similar agreements with India and those nations had learnt that when India gained access to those vital sectors, its control over them was used to push for political and economic agendas favourable to India.FSP Education Secretary said that if a future Sri Lankan government antagonised India in any manner, the Indian company could deliberately delay LNG supplies, crippling the Sri Lankan economy.
Latest News
Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala and Kurunegala districts.
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 04 May 2025, valid for 05 May 2025.
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala and Kurunegala districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
“Power failures on election day could occur due to natural causes or sabotage”
Funds allocated for hiring power generators for the counting centres were inadequate, and the Grama Niladaris (GNs) would not be able to ensure a back-up power supply to those places, President of the Sri Lanka United Grama Niladhari Association, Nandana Ranasinghe warned yesterday.
Addressing a press conference, Ranasinghe said: “Under these circumstances, it will not be possible to provide the counting centres with generators. Funds must also be allocated for hiring electric bulbs, cables and transporting generators as well.
“Unless funds are made available immediately, the GNs must not be held responsible if something goes wrong in the event of a power failure, either due to natural causes or sabotage. The GNs must not be asked to bear the cost of supplying back-up power to counting centres.
“In some areas, the District Returning Officers are pressuring the GNs to bear the cost of hiring power generators. The GNs must not be forced to spend their personal funds to provide facilities to counting centres.
“If a power outage occurs, it will definitely cause issues at counting centres. In the event of disruptions to the vote counting process, the results in the polling divisions under the centres may have to be annulled.”
More than 65,000 police officers would be deployed for the 06 May local government (LG) elections from today (05), Police Media Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manatunga told The Island, yesterday. The police personnel will include members of the Police Special Task Force, intelligence units, security divisions, and mobile patrol teams.
Army Media Spokesman Brigadier Varuna Gamage told The Island that 8,500 military personnel would be deployed on the roads across the country in view of the LG elections.
He said the Army would coordinate with the police, and that troops in all military camps had been placed on standby to face any situation.
By Norman Palihawadane and Chaminda Silva
Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala and Kurunegala districts.
Showers expected in most provinces during the afternoon or night today
Fund issues may leave counting centres without back-up power tomorrow: GNs’ trade union
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