The Adani Group said in a statement that it was “clearly disappointed” by the huge controversy surrounding the energy project awarded to them by the Government of Sri Lanka after a Sri Lankan government official claimed that the project was awarded to the group due to pressure from Indian Prime Minister.
The Indian conglomerate said it is investing in Sri Lanka to meet Sri Lanka’s needs.
A spokesperson for the Adani Group said as a leading responsible corporate in India, it believes that meeting the needs of Sri Lanka is essential for the development of the Indo-Sri Lanka Partnership and the Mannar wind power project, which was taken with that purpose, was being criticized.
“Our intent in investing in Sri Lanka is to address the needs of a valued neighbor. As a responsible corporate, we see this as a necessary part of the partnership that our two nations have always shared. We are clearly disappointed by the detraction that seems to have come about. The fact is that the issue has already been addressed by and within the Sri Lankan Government,” spokesperson of the Adani group said.
MMC Ferdinando, the chairman of Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), when questioned by the parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) said he was told by the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to award the project to the Adani Group as the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was exerting pressure on the President.
The CEB Chairman retracted his statement and resigned from his post when President Rajapaksa contradicted him vehemently rejecting the claim made by the official to the COPE.
The President has “categorically stated that he had not at any time given authorization to award a wind power project in Mannar to any person or any institution,” President’s Media Division said.
Although Mr. Ferdinando withdrew his statement saying he became “so emotional due to pressures and unreasonable allegation” leveled against him and apologized while facing questions from the parliamentary committee, the statement has caused controversy in Indian politics as well.
Rahul Gandhi, the General Secretary of the Indian Congress Party, quoting the Sri Lankan official’s statement has also criticized the Indian Prime Minister’s Bharathiya Janatha Party (BJP).
Courtesy: Colombo Page
