Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath

Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath has said the Sri Lankan Government is unable to make a final decision on the proposed 250 MW Mannar Wind Power Project by India’s Adani Green Energy due to the ongoing court case. Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Herath said, “That case is before courts. The court has not given a decision yet,” adding that no decision can be made until the legal proceedings are concluded.

The project has faced significant opposition since its inception. In June former Bishop of the Diocese of Mannar Fidelis Emmanuel Fernando, along with environmentalists Rohan Pethiyagoda, Prof. Nimal Gunatilleke, and Prof. Sarath Kotagama, filed a fundamental rights petition in the Supreme Court.

The petition raises environmental and procedural concerns regarding the wind power project, which critics argue was awarded without competitive bidding, resulting in a significantly higher cost compared to similar projects in the region.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had also earlier pledged during his election campaign to re-evaluate the project, citing irregularities in the agreement and echoing the concerns of local residents and environmentalists.

However Sri Lanka is moving forward with other Adani-backed projects, including the development of a container terminal at the Port of Colombo. Tax concessions for the terminal were recently tabled in parliament, signalling the Government’s commitment to the partnership despite ongoing scrutiny of the wind power project.