Sri Lanka Adani Project Sparks Controversy Electricity Chief Resigns Accusing PM Modi Pressuring President Rajapaksa

New Delhi: A Sri Lankan official has resigned after sparking a serious controversy together with his declare throughout a listening to earlier than a parliamentary panel on Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi allegedly influenced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to award a wind energy challenge to the Indian multinational conglomerate Adani Group. Later Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Electrical energy Board (CEB) chairman MMC Ferdinando withdrew his claims on Sunday. Nevertheless, President Rajapaksa on Saturday categorically denied Ferdinando’s assertion earlier than the parliamentary panel.

Rajapaksa tweeted: “Re a press release made by the #lka CEB Chairman at a COPE committee listening to concerning the award of a Wind Energy Mission in Mannar, I categorically deny authorisation to award this challenge to any particular individual or entity”.

Re a press release made by the #lka CEB Chairman at a COPE committee listening to concerning the award of a Wind Energy Mission in Mannar, I categorically deny authorisation to award this challenge to any particular individual or entity. I belief accountable communication on this regard will comply with.

— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) June 11, 2022

The letter, written by Ferdinando on 25 November 2021, is addressed to the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, SR Attygalle. The letter refers back to the Prime Minister’s path to recognise the proposal of the Adani Inexperienced Vitality Ltd (AGEL) because the proposal of the Authorities of Sri Lanka from the Authorities of India as a result of, so as to face the FDI disaster, the heads of each the international locations are chargeable for this funding in Sri Lanka. 

It added that this official within the November 16 assembly with President Gotabhaya had directed Adani Inexperienced Vitality to develop 500MV wind and photo voltaic, renewable energy tasks in Mannar and Punarin as it’s already in Sri Lanka. The official additionally mentioned that the signing of the facility buy settlement and different associated agreements must be taken ahead as an funding proposal for Sri Lanka.

Nevertheless, the video of Ferdinando’s remarks within the parliamentary committee listening to is being broadly shared on Twitter. Within the video, the official is saying this in Sinhalese, “On November 24, 2021, the president summoned me after a gathering and mentioned, India’s Prime Minister Modi is pressuring him handy over the challenge to the Adani group,” Ferdinando mentioned, in accordance with a video clip of his testimony uploaded by Sri Lankan information channel, News1st.