The government she has also did not comment on allegations or message. (a file)
New Delhi:
Lankan official Resigned after sparking controversy with His claim that energy project in Sri Lanka awarded to industrialist Gautam Adani group After Prime Minister Narendra Modi put pressure on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
MMC Ferdinando, Chairman of The Sri Lanka Electricity Board (CEB) has resigned three days after being called to Parliament panel that President Rajapaksa told him that Prime Minister Modi had pressured him give the wind power project directly Adani group.
President Rajapaksa vehemently denied the claim, and a day later, Mr. Ferdinando retracted it.
The letter accessed exclusively by NDTV indicates that the officer has written to the Ministry of Finance Lankan to fast-Track approvals for 500MW renewable energy project in Mannar District of Sri Lanka and cited “Directives of the Prime Minister (Lanka)” to recognize Adani’s proposal as one from India government to Lanka government.
mineralogist group She said she was “disappointed” by the controversy. “Our intention in investment in Sri Lanka to meet the needs of Dear neighbor. K responsible Company, we see this as a necessary part of The partnership that our two countries have always shared. We are clearly disappointed by the detraction that appears to have occurred. The fact Is this the issue she has already A spokesperson for and within the Sri Lankan government said: of The group.
The message is written on November 25, 2021 by Mr Ferdinando, addressed to S. R. Atigala, Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Lanka of finance.
The message indicatesdirection By the Prime Minister to recognize the Adani Green Energy proposal as a proposal from India government to me government of Sri Lanka both heads of The countries be in Agreeing to make this investment in Sri Lanka, to face the current FDI crisis”.
He. She says The official was directed, in ‘later meeting’ with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on November 16 “Facilitation of Adani Green Energy Company to develop 500MW of wind, solar and renewable energy project in Manar and Bonerin, as he did already I agreed to make a big investment amount of direct foreign investment ” in Sri Lanka.
“According to this directive, I assumed this was a suggestion of Investor powered by government of India on the basics of Bilateral discussion between presidents of the states. And therefore, on The basis above, it is reasonable to assume that this is an investment proposal on the basics of GG and can be treated as a BOI directed investment (Board of Investments of Lanka) … “Mr Ferdinando says in the message.
The official also Ask to sign of The power purchase agreement and other related covenants should Move forward As a Sri Lanka investment proposal.
Reportedly, the Adani group won shrinkage worth 500 million dollars to develop two wind power Projects in Manar and in Bonnerin, in Dec.
The government He did not respond to the allegations or the letter.
Mr. Ferdinando first made Claim on Friday, at an open hearing of The Commission on Public Institutions (COPE), Parliamentary panel.
video of Mr. Ferdinando comment In the parliamentary hearing was widely circulated on Twitter.
In an open hearing of Parliamentary Committee of public institutions-
Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman MMC Ferdinando said:
Sri Lankan President # Gotabaya Rajapaksha The Indian Prime Minister told him #NarendraModi He was insisting on awarding a 500MW wind power plant to the ADANI group picture.twitter.com / FNiAyTX1kU
– ??????????????????????????????????????? (hatefreeworldX) June 12 2022
“On November 24, the President summoned me after a meeting and said that Prime Minister Modi is pressing him to hand over over The project to Al-Adani group. I said: This matter does not concern me or the flowing electricity board This is made up of The board of investments’. I insisted I look into it. Then I sent a message that the President had instructed me and the Minister of Finance should Do what is required. I mentioned out that this is government-to me-government Deal ” official He said in Sinhala in video, addresses panel.
Sunday evening, following a strong denial by President Rajapaksa on Twitter, it was Mr. Ferdinando also He withdrew his comments claiming that he was “overcome with Emotion ‘while facing Questions suggesting wrongdoing.
President Rajapaksa had tweeted: “Regarding a statement made By the President of #lka CEB at a hearing of the COPE Committee regarding award of wind power project in Manar, I flatly refuse permission to award this is project to any specific person or entity.
Restatement made by #lka CEB Chairman at a COPE hearing regarding award of wind power project in Manar, I flatly refuse permission to award this is project for any particular person or entity. I trust responsible Telecommunications in This connection will follow.
– Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) 11 June 2022
for him office I followed this up with A longer statement “strongly denies” the charge.
Controversy erupted a day after Sri Lanka changed Its rules for removing competitive bidding for energy projects.
The opposition has accused government of bump the bill through parliament To facilitate large energy deals for an adversarial group that has signed an unsolicited request government-to me-government Approval build wind mannar power Factory.
Gautam Adani visited Sri Lanka in October and he had tweeted about his meeting with President Rajapaksa.
Honor to meet the president Tweet embed and PM Tweet embed. In addition to the development of the Western Container Terminal at Colombo Port, Adani Group will explore other infrastructure partnerships. India’s strong ties with Sri Lanka is linked by centuries of ancient historical ties. picture.twitter.com/noq8A1aLAv
– Gautam Adani (@gautam_adani) October 26, 2021
In 2021, the Adani Group signed a deal worth $700 million with the state-run Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) to develop and run Western International Container Terminal in the strategic port of Colombo.
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