Questionable energy deal with US firm: Govt. ally complains to CIABOC, moves court

The Federation of National Organizations (FNO) says that a petition will be filed today (22) in the Court of Appeal seeking the annulment of the recently concluded agreement between Sri Lanka and US firm New Fortress Energy Inc., in respect of the 310 MW Yugadanavi Power Plant and a contract for developing a new LNG Terminal off the coast of Colombo.

As part of the transaction, New Fortress will have rights to supply gas to the Kerawalapitya Power Complex, where 310 MW of power plant is operational and an additional 700 MW unit is scheduled to be built.

FNO spokesperson told The Island Ven. Bengamuwe Nalaka thera, Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera, Dr. Wasantha Bandara and attorney-at-law Nuwan Bellanthudawa would petition the court.

Early this week, Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and Ven. Elle Gunawansa moved the Supreme Court against the controversial deal.

The FNO backed the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) at both presidential and parliamentary polls in Nov 2019 and Aug. 2020.

Dr. Amarasekera told The Island that they had no option but to seek the Supreme Court intervention as the government seemed bent on executing the deal. The FNO recently lodged a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption over the New Fortress deal.

Dr. Amarasekera said that the agreement with New Fortress hadn’t been even properly discussed at the cabinet of ministers. The very basis of the collective Cabinet responsibility had been discarded, he said, urging the government to review its recent decisions. (SF)