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Proposed Adani energy project neither green nor clean: Environmentalist

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by Ifham Nizam 

Sri Lanka’s decision to grant permission for an Adani Group renewable energy project has raised significant concerns among environmentalists, economists, and the local communities.

Environmental Scientist Hemantha Withanage told The Island, immediately after launching the South Asia Just Transition Alliance Report on three cross border energy projects in South Asia in Nepal, that despite its portrayal as a clean energy initiative, the project serves broader geopolitical and economic interests while posing risks to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and environment.

Withanage, an environmentalist and the Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Justice, has been vocal about the potential consequences of such projects. “Adani’s power plant in Sri Lanka is not just about renewable energy. It’s a part of a larger political game that prioritises profit over people and nature.” He said that the proposed plant, part of an agreement between India and Sri Lanka, focused on renewable energy, yet experts questioned its true environmental benefits.

“Renewable energy projects can still cause significant environmental degradation if not planned carefully. Clearing vast tracts of land and disrupting ecosystems will have long-lasting consequences.”

The ecological cost includes threats to local biodiversity and potential pollution during construction. This directly conflicts with Sri Lanka’s efforts to protect its natural heritage and fragile ecosystems, already under pressure from unsustainable development projects.

He added that another pressing issue was the transparency of the project and its implications for Sri Lanka’s autonomy. Critics, including Withanage, believe that the deal reflects unequal power dynamics, with Sri Lanka acquiescing to India’s strategic ambitions. “It’s alarming how such projects are pushed forward with minimal public consultation or environmental assessments,” Withanage said.

The concerns align with a pattern observed in other regions where large multinational corporations, including Adani, have pursued projects often criticized for bypassing local regulations.

 “What we need are sustainable and locally-driven energy solutions, not projects that exploit our resources and communities,” Withanage said.



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Sri Lanka Navy joins commencement of AMAN-2025

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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

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Susantha Liyanaarachchi

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.

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Govt. to seek new indictments in Lasantha murder case

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Harini

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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