Weerawansa skips SLPP convection amidst controversial power project fusion

by Zulfick Farzan 02-11-2021 | 7:00 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st); Minister Wimal Weerawansa skipped the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna National Convention, and instead attended the ceremony to place the foundation stone for a factory in Pannala.

Weerawansa's National Freedom Front is part of the alliance that formed the present Rajapaksa government.

The other leaders in the alliance are representing the party at the National Convention of the SLPP, he added.

"Some don't understand how it feels to hold ministerial positions in the government and attempt to resolve problems by speaking about it outside the party while internal attempts have failed," he added.

Weerawansa's party and 10 other allies parties have been very critical of the controversial LNG deal the government signed with New Fortress Energy Inc.

These 11 political parties have opposed the move noting that such an agreement threatens Sri Lanka's sovereignty.

The political parties are Democratic Left Front (DLF), the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), the National Freedom Front (NFF), the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU), Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), National Congress, Eksath Mahajana Party, Sri Lanka Communist Party, the Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya and the Yuthukama National Organization.

New Fortress Energy Inc. announced on 22nd September that they have executed a definitive agreement for New Fortress’ investment in West Coast Power Limited (“WCP”), the owner of the 310 MW Yugadanavi Power Plant based in Colombo, along with the rights to develop a new LNG Terminal off the coast of Colombo, the capital city.

As part of the transaction, New Fortress will have gas supply rights to the Kerawalapitya Power Complex, where 310 MW of power is operational today and an additional 700 MW scheduled to be built, of which 350 MW is scheduled to be operational by 2023.

New Fortress will acquire a 40% ownership stake in WCP and plans to build an offshore liquified natural gas (LNG) receiving, storage, and regasification terminal located off the coast of Colombo.