New Cabinet to Reevaluate Adani Wind Power Deal

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Attorney General informed the Supreme Court today that the new Cabinet has decided to reassess the Adani Wind Power Project in Mannar.

This notification was made during the hearing of fundamental rights petitions filed by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society, the Centre for Environmental Justice, and several other parties, seeking to nullify the Cabinet's approval for the project.

The petitions seeking to nullify the Cabinet's approval for the Adani Wind Power Project in Mannar, were heard before a five-judge bench comprising Justices S. Thurairaja, A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Shiran Gunaratne, Achala Wengappuli, and Mahinda Samayawardana.

Deputy Solicitor General Dr. Avanthi Perera, representing the Cabinet Secretary, the Minister of Energy, and the Attorney General, stated that the new Cabinet has decided to reassess the proposed wind power project on November 7th.

She further informed the court that the reassessment would consider the terms of the agreement between the Sri Lankan government and India's Adani Group, as well as the concerns raised in the petitions.

Dr. Perera requested the court to grant a future date for the final decision by the new Cabinet, which will be established after the upcoming general election.

She assured the court that the current status with regard to the project would remain unchanged until the new Cabinet makes its final decision.

The petitioners' lawyers, agreeing with this approach, requested permission to amend the petitions to include the members of the new Cabinet as respondents, given the changes in the responsible parties.

The court granted this request and ordered that any observations or decisions by the government regarding the project be submitted by January 31st.