News
Govt.’s secret deal with US company affects Lanka’s sovereignty, says FSP
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Sri Lanka was now dependent on the United States to supply LNG to Sri Lankan power stations thanks to an agreement it had entered into with a US-based energy company, New Fortress Energy, on Friday night, the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) alleged yesterday.
FSP Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda said that the agreement between the government and US-based energy company New Fortress Energy to construct a new offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving, storage and regasification terminal at Kerawalapitiya as well as the transfer of government’s shares in the Yugadanavi Power Plant had to be scrapped.
He said that the agreement had been signed in the late hours of Friday.
“This secret agreement was signed at a time when people are barred from protesting or making a meaningful intervention. The Yugadanavi Power Station at Kerawalapitiya already produces 300 MWs of energy and there is a plan to build another 350 MW plant there. The US company has now been allowed to build an offshore LNG receiving, storage, and regasification terminal and to provide LNG to the existing Power Station and the new 350 MW power plant to be built,” he said.
The government was planning to increase this to 1000 MWs by 2026. In 2016, international tenders were called for the construction of the 350 MW LNG power plant. The two main contenders were China Harbour and Yugadanavi, which is a state owned company, with the Treasury owning 50% the balance 50% divided between EPF, LECO and LTL.
“But the government gave to China Harbour, and Yugadanavi filed a case against the government over its decision. In 2020 President Gotabaya Rajapaksa cancelled the tender given to China Harbour and gave the right to Yugadanavi, which at that time looked good. However there was a conspiracy, Yugadanavi signed an agreement with the US based energy company New Fortress Energy. With this MoU 40% of the company shares will be given to the US company,” Jayagoda said.
He said the agreement was worse than East Container Terminal pact.
“On 12 July this was discussed by the Cabinet but even the Minister of Power didn’t get a copy until the meeting started. Then Minister Basil Rajapaksa presented the paper and obtained the approval of ministers. The agreement calls for the sale of a large number of shares to the US company as well as the building an offshore LNG receiving, storage, and regasification terminal to provide LNG to the existing Power Station as well as the new 350 MW power plant to be built. This is clearly said on the Company website,” he said.
Given that the pipelines would be controlled by a US company, Sri Lanka would lose energy sovereignty. In the future, Sri Lankans would have to depend on the whims and fancies of US political authorities, he claimed.
By Norman Palihawadane
Authorities have launched an investigation into the disappearance of over 70 assault rifles from an undisclosed Army camp.The police confirmed that two of the missing T-56 assault rifles had been recovered.
A 47-year-old Civil Defence Force (CDF) member has been arrested in connection with the incident. Acting on information from the suspect, police recovered a T-56 with 11 rounds of ammunition in Kotawila, Matara, on Friday. The arrest followed an earlier recovery of another T-56 rifle and a grenade in Ruhunuketha, Welikanda, which the suspect was allegedly attempting to sell.
Investigations have revealed that the suspect had sold one more T-56, with ammunition, for Rs. 200,000. The CDF member’s arrest came after a person, detained by the Wellampitiya Police with a pistol, confessed to purchasing the weapon from him, providing contact details that led to his arrest.
The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) obtained a 90-day detention order for further questioning of the suspect.
Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya confirmed to The Island that details of the Army camp and officers involved were being withheld for now.
Police Media Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manatunga said that the CCD and CID were conducting parallel investigations into the case.
Further updates on the missing firearms and their potential links to crimes are expected as the investigation progresses, SSP Manatunga told The Island.
More than 35 people were hospitalised following a head-on collision between two privately-owned buses in Matara yesterday morning.Six persons sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Matara Hospital, police added.
Police Spokesman SSP K.B. Manathunga said that there was a rising number of road accidents involving privately-owned buses in recent times. In response, police have intensified legal actions against passenger bus drivers who violate traffic regulations.
SSP Manathunga announced on Saturday that the government has approved the recruitment of an additional 10,000 police officers. This move aims to strengthen efforts in preventing road accidents, as well as supporting broader anti-crime and anti-drug operations.
Investigations into the cause of the collision are ongoing, SSP Manatunga said. (RK)
Text and Pic by Dinasena Rathugamage
A 25-year-old elephant that had been struggling in pain and hunger for 14 days due to suspected severe gunshot injuries died on Saturday near the Iranamadukulam tank in Kilinochchi.
Villagers who noticed the injured elephant informed Wildlife officers about its condition. Although a team of officials rushed to the location and attempted to treat the elephant, its condition was critical due to severe injuries and its extreme weakness, making recovery impossible.
Wildlife officers said that the elephant was about 25 years of age and they suspected that the elephant’s injuries had been caused by a gunshot. A post-mortem examination is scheduled to determine the exact cause of death. The Kilinochchi Police and Wildlife officials have launched an investigation into the death of the elephant.
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