Power plant contracts given without tenders, including deal to two former cricketers: Opposition

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

Contracts have been given to set up seven power plants across the country without calling for tenders, an opposition MP revealed in Parliament yesterday.   

MP Mujibur Rahman said one contract had been given to two famous Sri Lankan cricketers while another had been given to a company which was formerly owned by the Minister of Power and Energy Kumara Jayakody.   

“Where is transparency pledged by the government?” he questioned.   

He said the contracts for a 100mw plant in Ottamavdai, 100mw plant in Punai, 50mw solar power plant in Nilaweli Trincomalee, 100mw plant in Trincomalee, 50Mw solar plant in Trincomalee , a wind power plant in Kalpitiya and another 50 Mw plant in Jaffna have been given without calling for tenders.  

This allegation was made despite the claim made by Minister Jayakody that the government has introduced a system of competitive bidding and will never give in to power mafias whether it is the renewable energy mafia or another.