Power Minister promises to table all documents pertaining to Yugadanavi deal

By Saman Indrajith

Minister of Power Gamini Lokuge told Parliament yesterday that a copy of the agreement which the government had signed with New Fortress Energy and other documents pertaining to the tenders would be tabled in the House next week.

Responding, on behalf of the Prime Minister, to a query raised by Colombo District SJB MP S.M. Marikkar, Minister Lokuge said that all documents pertaining to the Yugadanavi power plant and supply of LNG would be tabled.

The Minister said New Fortress Energy will be contracted to supply LNG only for a period of five years. “However, I want to make it clear that Fortress Energy will not enjoy a monopoly in supplying LNG,” the Minister assured, adding that the company would not have any powers to engage in off-shore oil and gas explorations in the Mannar basin.

“Allowing private sector participation in the power supply is nothing new as the private sector has been involved in the said sector since the 1990s,” he said, adding that the government had no intention to sell off national assets to foreigners or foreign companies as alleged by the opposition.

The Kelanitissa Power Station had been run by an American company but none of those speaking against foreign investors spoke a word about it then, the minister said, adding that its management was transferred to a Japanese company very recently.