Karu seeks clarification from govt. about JVP leader’s revelation

Questionable New Fortress agreement:

The revelation made by JVP Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake regarding the alleged sale of the Kerawalapitiya power plant to a foreign company, including a number of institutions owned by the Sri Lanka Electricity Board, has caused a great deal of controversy among the public, former Speaker and the Chairman of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) Karu Jayasuriya said yesterday.

The revelation was made by the Leader of the JVP to the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Therefore, could be considered as a statement made very responsibly, he said.

“The agreement was reportedly signed by the Sri Lanka Power Holdings although the Cabinet paper proposed the transfer to New Fortress Energy (NFE) in the United States. The public has a right to know whether this company is a wholly owned subsidiary of NFE or a joint venture with another party,” Jayasuriya said.

The former Speaker said that according to the Article 13 (1) of the Agreement between the government and the company, the details of the agreement could not be revealed to the public for two years without the consent of both parties. It was an absurd agreement and no responsible government would agree to such a clause, he said.

“The government must reveal the contents of the agreement with the company to Parliament and the public before going ahead with the deal. The failure of the government is obviously a deliberate evasion of its responsibility to the people,” he said.

Jayasuriya said that the sovereignty vested on the people has been severely undermined by the non-disclosure of the agreement to the country’s top policy-making body, which was also in charge of the monetary control.

“We are not against foreign investments from any country but such investments must be according to laws of the land and with total transparency. This essential requirement is lacking in this transaction.  It is obvious that everyone is taking this matter very seriously. Therefore, our organisation emphasises that the government should disclose the full facts to the country and the people without delay,” he said.