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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.
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Sri Lanka Navy joins commencement of AMAN-2025

The multinational naval exercise AMAN-2025, hosted by the Pakistan Navy for the ninth time, commenced at Pakistan Navy Dockyard in Karachi on 07 Feb 25. The event was attended by Commanding Officer and crew of SLNS Vijayabahu, representing the Sri Lanka Navy.
AMAN-2025 will be held from 07 to 11 Feb in Karachi, and the multinational naval exercise will see the attendance of Navy Chiefs, stakeholders and think tank from maritime fraternity, from 60 nations.
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SME representatives accuse presidential aide of instigating protest against Central Bank

A presidential advisor, identified as D. Gamage, had asked a delegation representing the SME sector to “surround the Central Bank” instead of troubling officers at the Presidential Secretariat, Susantha Liyanaarachchi, Chairman of the National Construction Association of Sri Lanka (NCASL) told the media yesterday near the Presidential Secretariat.
Liyanaarachchi said so following a meeting with Gamage, on Friday, during a protest staged by a group of small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs, affiliated with the MSME Joint Alliance, outside the Presidential Secretariat against parate executions.
Five representatives were permitted to enter the Secretariat, where they also submitted a 17-point proposal aimed at reviving the domestic coconut oil industry.
“Gamage said there was no point in coming to the Presidential Secretariat. He asked us to surround the Central Bank. What an awful officer. We came here to settle our issues amicably, and Gamage told us to surround the Central Bank,” Liyanaarachchi said.
Liyanaarachchi also stated that the Central Bank did not adhere to instructions given by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, exacerbating the concerns voiced by the MSME entrepreneurs.
News
Govt. to seek new indictments in Lasantha murder case

By Saman Indrajith
The government would try to initiate fresh indictments in the Lasantha Wickrematunga murder case, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said on Friday, pledging that those responsible for the murder of journalist Wickrematunga would be held accountable. She also stated that she intended to respond personally to a letter from Wickrematunga’s daughter, Ahimsa, who has called on Parliament to impeach Attorney General Parinda Ransinghe (Jr.) over the recent release of three suspects.
Ahimsa Wickrematunga’s request for impeachment followed the release of several individuals—among them a police officer—who had been arrested on accusations of destroying evidence, including a notebook belonging to her father and key police records. Speaking in Parliament, Prime Minister Amarasuriya said, “I plan to respond directly to Ms Wickrematunga, as I fully understand her concerns and the distress she must be experiencing. We are doing our utmost to observe due process and uphold the independence of the Attorney General’s office, but justice must prevail.”
She went on to say, “We intend to seek justice for Lasantha Wickrematunga’s murder. President [Dissanayake] has met with those involved to determine the best course of action. We are examining the possibility of refiling or initiating new inquiries if necessary, as there is plenty of evidence.”
Opposition legislator Rauff Hakeem noted that the suspects were released on a technicality related to an identification parade, and expressed concern that the Attorney General was selectively releasing certain suspects, despite there being many dedicated officers within the Department. He added, “Ultimately, the purpose of all our judicial institutions is to deliver justice. If procedures obstruct that aim, we must re-examine them.”
Prime Minister Amarasuriya reiterated that the Government is open to debating the matter in Parliament, saying, “We will look at refiling charges or bringing new indictments where appropriate. We fully appreciate the gravity of this situation and the need for transparency, and we will do everything in our power to ensure justice is served.”
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