Leader of the National People’s Power Anura Kumara Dissanayake today revealed in Parliament, that the government is preparing to hand over ownership of power generation in the country to a US firm, placing the economy and national security at risk.
Raising a question under Standing Orders, Parliamentarian Dissanayake said the government is preparing to hand over construction of the gas terminal and pipelines to supply the gas to the Yugadanavi, Kerawalapitiya Power Plant, to the US firm.
The MP said a Cabinet Paper has been tabled in this regard by the Minister of Finance, adding that an international tender was called and suspended subsequently.
However he claimed that a Cabinet Paper has now been tabled in this regard and questioned if such deals are transparent.
MP Dissanayake added the government claimed it will eliminate corruption, fraud and wastage, but to no avail.
He also stated the government has no right to vest the country’s energy sector with foreign firms adding that the power sector must be strengthened.
Responding on behalf of the Minister of Energy, State Minister Duminda Dissanayake said the government has not reached any decision to transfer the energy sector to the United States or any other foreign firm.
The State Minister said the statement by MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake was made, unaware of the reality.
He said the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the Ceylon Electricity Board launched a tender process based on assessments in order to provide LNG to the country.
The State Minister said this process has been in place while feasibility studies have also been conducted, adding that the tender process was launched subsequently.
