Minister of Power, Kumara Jayakody, clarified that the wind power project, previously planned with India’s Adani Group, has not been cancelled. This statement was made during the inaugural meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Energy in the Tenth Parliament on 6 March.
Addressing queries from Members of Parliament, the Minister explained that while the pricing of Adani’s power project was deemed high, the matter had been referred to the Cabinet for reconsideration. He recalled that Adani Group’s parent company had initially informed Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment (BOI) of their withdrawal from the project, prompting the BOI to notify the Ministry. However, discussions with Adani’s representative institution in Sri Lanka are ongoing, with the Ministry awaiting a response within two weeks. If the response is negative, alternatives will be explored.
Looking ahead, the Minister emphasized that future projects will only be pursued through government-to-government agreements and competitive procurement processes.
Additionally, the meeting discussed vacancies within the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), particularly in engineering roles, as many engineers had migrated during the economic crisis. Recruitment to fill these vacancies is underway, following Cabinet approval for a phased approach.
The issue of unexpected power outages was also raised, with officials noting that even minor system fluctuations could destabilize the grid. Efforts are being made to maintain stability by incorporating solar power and other energy sources.
The inadequate maintenance of streetlights was another concern, with the Committee recommending increased collaboration between local government institutions and the Electricity Board. The Minister promised to finalize a policy on this issue within two months.
Further discussions also focused on matters related to the Ministry at provincial, district, and divisional levels. Members of Parliament and officials participated in the meeting.
