Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister and Cabinet Spokesperson Vijitha Herath recently addressed reporters in Colombo, clarifying that his government has yet to make any decisions regarding Indian projects on the island, including the controversial Adani wind power project in Mannar.
This statement stands in contrast to a key pledge on the Adani project made by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during his presidential campaign, where he said “We will definitely cancel it as it threatens our energy sovereignty”.
However, when asked about the status of the Adani project or any other Indian investments during a press briefing, Herath denied any recent discussions on the matter.
The project had drawn some opposition from both environmentalists and Tamils communities in the region, following the signing of an MoU between the Sri Lankan government and Adani Energy earlier in the year. However, concerns centred around the sustainability of the project rather than the “sovereignty” aspect.
Herath clarified that no new decisions regarding ongoing or potential projects had been made, attributing this to the transitional phase following the election. “No decisions have been taken to halt or start new projects,” Herath said, as quoted by News First.
This shift in stance comes as Dissanayake's administration appears increasingly hesitant to implement certain campaign promises. For decades, Dissanayake’s Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) had staunchly opposed Indian intervention on the island, but has sought to build closer ties once he took office last month.
Whether the Adani project will continue remains unclear, with parliamentary elections scheduled to take place in November.
