Category: News

Despite environmental concerns raised over the Adani green energy project in the north, the Power and Energy Ministry is insistent that the project site cannot be compromised but only steps for mitigation of damage can be taken, according to a top source.

Adani Green Energy’s wind energy project, coming up in Mannar and Pooneryn districts, has been challenged in the Supreme Court on grounds of potential environmental impact and ‘lack of transparency’.

Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority has sought environmental clearance for the project which is coming up across the Central Asian Flyway which brings one million birds of 150 species to Mannar.

However, a top official of the Ministry said this is the location with the highest potential for wind energy, and therefore it cannot be compromised no matter what. However, he said steps would be taken for mitigation of damages on migratory bird paths, their habitats and breeding patterns.

“We are open for steps to be taken to mitigate the damage. Still, it is difficult to compromise the project site since it is the place with the highest potential,” he said.

India’s Adani Group plans to invest over US $ 1 billion in setting up projects in Sri Lanka through Adani Green Energy Ltd. The projects include two wind farms in Mannar town and Pooneryn areas with a total capacity of 484 megawatts.

Environmental clearance has been sought to set up 52 wind towers. Sri Lanka has set a goal to have 70 percent of its electricity generated by renewable energy sources by 2030, and achieve carbon neutrality in electricity generation by 2050. A currently untapped resource for the country that can help achieve these goals is offshore wind. Sri Lanka needs to add an estimated 11,000 MW to its power grid within the next two decades to meet growing demand, according to the World Bank.

Sri Lanka has the capacity for 27GW of fixed offshore wind in shallow waters, defined as less than 50 meters, and for 29GW of floating offshore wind in deeper waters.

Asked about the current status regarding the environment, a source from the Central Environment Authority (CEA) said public consultation on the basic study had been completed, and a committee had been appointed for technical evaluation at the moment.

“There are various suggestions for mitigation,” the source said on condition of anonymity.

Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has observed an irrelevancy with regard to the President’s and Parliament’s term as per articles 30 (2), 62 (2), and 83 (b) of the Constitution.

The Department of Government Information, said that in order to avoid any suspicion and any inconsistency in this regard, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President to prepare a draft bill relevant to Constitutional reforms for the amendment of the Article 83 (b) of the Constitution by substituting the clause “exceeding five years” instead of the clause “exceeding six years”.

The United States, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is supporting the Sri Lankan Ministry of Finance to modernize the country’s trade facilitation infrastructure through the implementation of Sri Lanka’s Trade National Single Window System (TNSWS).

The TNSWS, when operational, will streamline the collection of information required for trade, leading to increased transparency and efficiency, reduced costs, and more potential revenue.

As part of the ongoing collaboration, the Department of Trade and Investment Policy of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies with support from USAID recently held a workshop for 94 key TNSWS project stakeholders. The interactive workshop enhanced participants’ understanding of how the single window system works and its benefits. It also encouraged collaboration and sustainability in Sri Lanka’s TNSWS implementation.

“As a long-time partner and Sri Lanka’s largest export market, the United States supports efforts to boost exports and improve efficiency for businesses and government agencies. We are committed to initiatives like the TNSWS, which will make trade more transparent and predictable, easing business challenges,” said USAID Mission Director for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Gabriel Grau.

K.M. Mahinda Siriwardana, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, emphasized, “Establishing a trade national single window system is crucial as Sri Lanka recovers from an unprecedented economic crisis. The TNSWS will increase our trade competitiveness and support export growth, leading to sustained economic stability.”

As part of the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement, which Sri Lanka signed in 2017, implementation of a TNSWS is required. Implementation of a TNSWS received cabinet approval in 2022.

Over the past year, the United States has provided technical assistance to help the Government of Sri Lanka establish a Project Implementation Unit to lead the TNSWS project.

Sri Lanka’s Parliament approved amendments to a decades-old law on Tuesday to allow Elon Musk’s Starlink, the satellite unit of SpaceX, to set up operations in the South Asian island nation.

Sri Lanka’s parliament passed the new telecommunications bill, which amended the existing law for the first time in 28 years, without a vote, parliament’s office said in a statement.

The amendments will introduce three new types of licences and allow Starlink to enter Sri Lanka’s telecoms market as a licensed service provider, pending approval from the telecoms regulator, technology minister Kanaka Herath told parliament.

The original law had no regulations allowing satellite internet service providers to operate in the country.

“This opportunity is not just for Starlink but any other company that wants to invest in Sri Lanka,” Herath told lawmakers on Tuesday while presenting the bill.

“Our plan it to grow the IT sector to a $15 billion industry by 2030. So it is important that we attract international companies to provide internet, especially to rural areas.”

Starlink approached Sri Lanka in March with a proposal to set up operations, Herath told Reuters on Monday. Sri Lanka granted Starlink preliminary approval in June after fast-tracking the process.

Starlink will have to pay a tariff for the licence, Herath added, without giving details.

The Freedom Peoples Congress (FPC) led by MP Dullas Alahapperuma, a breakaway faction of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), will join an alliance led by the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), MP Charitha Herath said.

Herath told reporters in Colombo on Wednesday July 10 that the FPC’s discussions with the SJB have been successful and the group intends to join the “mainstream” opposition as part of a broader alliance.

“A very decisive presidential election is likely to be held this November. Our talks with the main opposition SJB have been very successful. So we believe we will be able to join the opposition mainstream over the next few weeks to bring about a broad political change,” said Herath.

The SJB will be fielding its own presidential candidate, the MP said, and will be backed by a “strong” team and manifesto.

“We have been discussing this for a long time. The country is on the verge of an election. Our talks with the SJB have been successful. We expect to face the presidential election inside a broad political force.

“We believe the opposition’s main programme can be carried forward inside a new political culture and political programme.

“In this presidential election, we will put one person forward as the candidate as well as a strong team and programme before the country and win,” said Herath.

Asked if he can confirm that the Alahapperuma group will definitely join the SJB-led alliance, the MP said: “Yes, it is guaranteed.”

A faction of the FPC led by SLPP dissident G L Peiris had already joined the SJB in December last year. Reportedly this was due to dissatisfaction over delays in talks with the main opposition party. This faction includes MPs Dilan Perera and Nalaka Godahewa.

The Alahapperuma group comprises MPs Herath, Gunapala Ratnasekera, Tilak Rajapaksa, Lalith Ellawala and Udeni Kirindiagoda.

Leader of the National People’s Power Anura Kumara Dissanayake held talks with Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha in Colombo.

The Indian High Commission in Colombo said the High Commissioner discussed the Dissanayake’s political campaign and electoral trends in Sri Lanka.

It added that the High Commissioner briefed Anura Kumara Dissanayake about various bilateral initiatives.

Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, Warak-agoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera, has warned that any attempt to change the election dates may lead to turmoil in the country.

The Thera expressed these concerns during a conversation with Freedom People’s Congress (FPC) member and Parliamentarian Prof. G.L. Peiris, who visited the Asgiriya Vihara yesterday.

He also emphasised that there is no need to postpone the elections.

Peiris also pointed out to the Thera that according to the Constitution, the President’s term of office is unequivocally five years, a principle affirmed by the Supreme Court in two prior rulings.

He also emphasised that the Government should allow the Election Commission to fulfil its role at this time.

Speaking to those gathered, the Registrar of the Asgiriya chapter, Medagama Dhammananda Thera expressed concern that politicians frequently instigate multiple crises, causing people to endure immense pressure and live in despair.

He said politicians should prioritise actions to uplift the lives of the people, but instead, there is a prevalent focus and tendency to criticise each other while discussing retaining or gaining power.

Dhammananda Thera also underscored the importance of conducting elections as mandated by the constitution and as desired by the people.