A Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU) between the government of Sri Lanka and the People’s Republic of China over the maintenance and technical operations of the Norochcholai coal power plant will be signed in two weeks.

A senior official of the Power and Energy Ministry told Asian Mirror that the signing of the MOU would coincide with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Sri Lanka. The Chinese President is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka on September 16.

During his visit, the Chinese President will also open the third phase of the Norochcholai coal power plant project and the event will also be attended by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The MOU, according to the ministry official, will look into a mechanism to address a number of technical issues at the Norochcholai coal power plant with the Chinese assistance.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan ministers are expected to present their observations to the Cabinet on September 04 over the future of the coal power plant. Highly placed government sources said the Cabinet will also discuss the possibilities of handing over the management of the Norochcholai coal power plant to China at the next cabinet meeting.

Ranjan Jayalal, JVP-affiliated trade union leader of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB)  said they were against any move in the direction of handing over the Norocholai coal power plant to China. He said various attempts had been made in the past to convert the Norochcholai coal power plant into an asset of the Chinese government.

Trade unions of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) are viewing the MOU between Sri Lanka and China with suspicion.