By Online Desk
Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman, M.M.C. Ferdinando has resigned three days after his controversial statement alleging the involvement of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in having pushed for a power project to be handed to Adani Group.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had dismissed the allegation and the remarks were withdrawn after the Chairman of CEB sparked controversy.
CEB Chairman M.M.C. Ferdinando, earlier, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of pressuring the Sri Lankan government over the allotment of a wind power project to the Adani Group.
In a statement late Saturday, CEB Chairman withdrew the remarks he made at a parliamentary committee meeting a day earlier. Ferdinando said he had become “emotional due to pressures and unreasonable allegations” levelled against him during the testimony.
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“Therefore, due to unexpected pressure and emotions, I was compelled without limitation to express the word ‘India agamathi bala kara bawa kiwwa’ (stressed by the Prime Minister of India), which is totally incorrect. Hence I wish to withdraw the relevant statement and record my apology unconditionally,” local media reports quoted Ferdinando as saying.
“In regard to the clarification made by me at the COPE (Parliament’s Committee on Public Enterprises) meeting held on 10 June 2022, in replying to the allegation made against me on the proposed Mannar and Pooneryn wind and solar projects with Adani Green Energy Limited to generate renewable energy of 500 MW, I explained the circumstances behind my letter dated 25 November 2021,” Ferdinando said.
Even before the chairman of the state-owned CEB withdrew or apologised for his remarks, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had already dismissed the claims and wrote “I categorically deny authorisation to award this project to any specific person or entity. I trust responsible communication in this regard will follow”.
Re a statement made by the #lka CEB Chairman at a COPE committee hearing regarding the award of a Wind Power Project in Mannar, I categorically deny authorisation to award this project to any specific person or entity. I trust responsible communication in this regard will follow.
— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) June 11, 2022
The Adani Group reportedly acquired contracts to develop two wind power projects in December last year. Adani Green Energy, a subsidiary of the Adani Group, had submitted its proposal to the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and the CEB.
