Coalition leaders meet Sirisena to discuss Kerawalapitiya controversy

COLOMBO (News 1st); Leaders of political parties in the coalition government held an emergency meeting at the official residence of Former President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday (21) afternoon.

General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Dayasiri Jayasekera said the discussion was based on the controversy surrounding the transfer of 40 percent of shares of the Kerawalapitiya thermal power plant to a US firm.

Jayasekera said views on the matter will be conveyed to the President and the Prime Minister.

11 coalition parties including those led by Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, and Vasudeva Nanayakkara met yesterday as well to discuss the same matter.

In early July 2021, New Fortress Energy Inc. announced that it has signed a Framework Agreement with the Government of Sri Lanka to construct a new offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving, storage, and regasification terminal.

The Terminal will be located off the coast of Colombo to supply gas to the country’s power plants, primarily located in the Kerawalapitiya Power Complex.

The Kerawalapitiya Power Complex consists of 300 MW in operation today and is ultimately expected to grow to over 1,000 MW by 2025.

As part of the Agreement, New Fortress will supply natural gas to the existing 300 MW Yugadanavi Power Plant and is negotiating the purchase of the Government’s 40% stake in the company that owns the power plant.

This power plant is currently under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) to provide electricity to the national grid that extends through 2035. The plant consists of General Electric turbines and was configured to run on natural gas in a combined cycle.

JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake claimed that the Government had signed an agreement with US-based energy company New Fortress Energy Inc. past midnight on Friday (17), transferring the Treasury’s 40% stake in the Yugadanavi Power Station in Kerawalapitiya to the company.