Sri Lanka pushes China aside; India to build hybrid power plants

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka has pushed aside China and given the nod to India to develop three Sri Lankan wind farms on islets between the countries.

This can be seen as a victory for New Delhi after the project was taken away from a Chinese firm.

Sri Lanka and India have signed six Memorandums of Understanding on Monday (28) when Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar called on his Sri Lankan counterpart Professor G. L. Peiris in Colombo.

The MoUs are :

• MOU for the establishment of modern computer labs and smart boards with customized curriculum software in 200 schools in the Galle district.

   

• MOU on the implementation of the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity (SL-UDI) programme with the Government of India’s Grant Assistance.

   

• MOI between the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Services (SSIFS), India, and the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI).

   

• MOU for providing Marine Rescue Coordinating Center (MRCC).

   

• MOU on the implementation of Hybrid Power Projects in three islands in Jaffna.

   

• MOU on Cooperation in Development of Fisheries Harbours in Sri Lanka.

Following the talks with Minister G. L Peiris, Dr. Jaishankar tweeted “Concluded productive talks with Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris of Sri Lanka.”

“Discussed economic recovery, our development partnership, mutual security, fishermen’s issues, and international coordination,” he added.

A $12 million project to build wind turbines on three small islands in the Palk Strait between southern India and Sri Lanka was awarded to a Chinese firm in 2019, with funding lined up from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

But after Indian protests about Chinese activity so close to its coast, work never began and the project on the islets of Nainativu, Analaitivu, and Delft was later scrapped.