Reveal secret deal with New Fortress Energy: JVP urges Govt.

Claiming that the Kerawalapitiya Power plant and the contract to supply LNG to the country’s power plants have been secretly handed over to New Fortress Energy company which was running into bankruptcy, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today urged the Government to reveal the agreement to the country.

Former JVP MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa told a news conference that the Government had signed the agreement violating tender procedures and without the knowledge of Parliament or the Cabinet.

He said this agreement was detrimental to the country as it would create a monopoly in the energy sector, incur a huge loss overall due to massive fraud and corruption and would pave the way for the US to unduly interfere in Sri Lanka's internal affairs.

He said this US based New Fortress Energy company was not even among the first 250 Companies that supplies LNG in the world and added that it was a debt-ridden company with a debt of US$ 1240 million by March 2021.

“It has only US$ 360.1 million as its reserves. It has recorded continual collapse in its shares at the US share market. It should be revealed that who did decide to choose a bankrupt Company through this secret deal,” he asked.

Dr. Jayatissa said this controversial agreement was signed ignoring the Power and Energy Minister and the Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).

He said it was estimated that the country would incur a loss of US$ 6,000 million due to this contract to supply Liquified Gas to power plants for ten years. (Ajith Siriwardana)