India’s Adani Group and its partners plan to double the capacity of an $840 million container terminal in Colombo several months ahead of schedule, despite giving up $553 million in U.S. funding, Reuters reported, citing a partner executive.

The Colombo West International Terminal, a deepwater facility next to one operated by China Merchants Port Holdings, highlights Sri Lanka’s strategic role in regional competition for Indian Ocean trade routes.

The first phase of the fully automated terminal was opened in April. The second and final phase is expected to be completed by late 2026, three to four months ahead of the original February 2027 deadline, John Keells Holdings transportation head Zafir Hashim told Reuters. Once finished, the terminal will be able to handle 3.2 million containers annually, with most of the traffic originating from India.

Adani Ports holds a 51 percent stake in the project, John Keells 34 percent, and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority the remainder, according to Reuters.

The accelerated timeline follows Adani’s decision in December to withdraw a funding request from the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. after U.S. authorities accused Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani and others of involvement in a bribery scheme. The company has rejected the allegations.

“Working with Adani, we really haven’t seen anything to worry about,” Hashim told Reuters. “Until something is proven, we are partners … They have been a very good partner to work with.”

Sri Lanka is also considering further Adani investments in renewable energy, Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody told Reuters, though Adani withdrew from two proposed wind power projects earlier this year after the new government sought to renegotiate purchase rates. (Newswire)

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Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) shares surged 3.6% to their intraday high of Rs 1,151.95 on the BSE on Tuesday after the company officially commenced operations at the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT), a project that began construction in 2022.

Located at the Port of Colombo, the terminal is developed under a public-private partnership involving Adani Ports, Sri Lanka’s John Keells Holdings PLC, and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

The CWIT project represents an $800 million investment and features a 1,400-metre quay length and a depth of 20 metres, enabling it to handle approximately 3.2 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) annually.

Notably, CWIT is the first fully automated deep-water terminal in Colombo. It is designed to enhance cargo handling efficiency and improve vessel turnaround times, further solidifying the port’s role as a key transshipment hub in South Asia.

Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, called the commencement of operations a momentous milestone in regional cooperation between India and Sri Lanka. “This terminal not only represents the future of trade in the Indian Ocean but also places Sri Lanka firmly on the global maritime map,” he said.

Krishan Balendra, Chairperson of the John Keells Group, highlighted the project’s strategic importance for Sri Lanka’s maritime ambitions.

“We are proud to see the progress in the development of the West Container Terminal, a project that strengthens Sri Lanka’s position as a regional maritime hub,” he said. “Together with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and the Adani Group, we will elevate Colombo’s status as a leading transshipment hub. We are confident that the project will enhance global trade and connectivity in the region.” (Newswire)

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Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe says all renewable energy proposals approved during his administration were subjected to a thorough evaluation process and were not influenced by financial or political interests.

Speaking on the 2023-2024 renewable energy project approvals, Wickremesinghe said several proposals were given the green light to attract much-needed foreign investment into Sri Lanka’s energy sector. “We approved around USD 2 to 2.5 billion worth of projects, following proper evaluations and pricing by project-specific committees,” he said.

He clarified the processes followed with both the Adani Group and Hayleys, highlighting that committees were appointed by the Finance Ministry and Cabinet to review each proposal before approval. “Final prices were decided based on reports by these committees. We ensured all decisions were made through official channels,” he added.

Commenting on environmental and infrastructure factors, Wickremesinghe pointed out that the Hayleys project underwent a government-led study on migratory birds in Mannar, while Adani had to fund their own. Land for the Hayleys project was provided through the CEB, whereas Adani had to purchase the land.

“All preliminary studies, feasibility assessments, and licensing costs were handled differently for each project depending on their specific circumstances,” he said, noting that Adani was required to fund several of these processes independently.

Dismissing allegations that monetary influence drove these projects, Wickremesinghe stated, “If someone claims money was taken, they must also name who gave the money. Is it being suggested that Adani paid bribes? Are we saying Adani violated laws in Sri Lanka or India?”

He also urged that such issues should not be politicized during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka, warning that unfounded allegations could harm diplomatic ties.

“We should focus on completing these projects and strengthening Sri Lanka–India relations in line with the joint statements issued in 2023 and 2024,” he said.

Wickremesinghe reaffirmed that the government will continue to work with India on energy cooperation, and stressed that any decision to halt projects must be backed by valid reasons.

Wickremesinghe was referring to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s stance that his government will not proceed with the power purchase agreement for the Mannar wind power plant unless the company agrees to the government’s proposed price.

Dissanayake said that the previous government had agreed to a rate of US$ 8.26 cents per unit, while the current agreement with a different company secured a deal at US$ 4.57 cents per unit—a difference that translates to Rs. 25 per unit instead of Rs. 13.

“We will never proceed until they agree to our price, irrespective of whatever agreement was signed,” President Dissanayake asserted. (Newswire)

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The Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed at the Supreme Court seeking the annulment of the decision to award the construction of a wind power plant in Mannar to India’s Adani Group, has been withdrawn.

The withdrawal comes after the Attorney General had filed a motion with the court stating that the Indian company Adani had informed the Chairman of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) in writing that it would withdraw the relevant project.

Following this, the petitioner today withdrew their FR petition filed at the Supreme Court. 

The petition was filed by the Wildlife Nature Protection Society (WNPS) challenging the cabinet decision announced in May 2024 on the Adani deal. 

Commenting on the petition, WNPS said it withdrew its legal petition before the Supreme Court following confirmation that Adani Green Energy has officially withdrawn from the proposed Mannar Island wind power project.

In a statement, WNPS said during today’s hearing, the Attorney General’s Department submitted a letter dated February 12, 2025, from Adani Green Energy to the Board of Investment (BOI), stating their decision to pull out of the project. It was further submitted by the Deputy Solicitor General that the withdrawal was further confirmed through direct communication between the Ministry of Energy and Adani’s local agent. As a result, WNPS, through its legal counsel, moved to withdraw its application.

Mannar Island is a globally significant ecological hotspot, serving as a critical stopover along the Central Asian Flyway, where millions of migratory birds from over 30 countries travel annually. Scientific research, including satellite-assisted tracking, has underscored the island’s irreplaceable role in global bird migration, biodiversity conservation, and Sri Lanka’s thriving wildlife tourism industry. WNPS has long warned that the proposed wind farm would have caused severe ecological and socio-economic disruptions, violating international conservation commitments and threatening local communities.

This outcome marks a significant victory in the ongoing efforts to protect Mannar Island’s fragile ecosystem. WNPS remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that all future development projects prioritize environmental sustainability and adhere to rigorous scientific assessments. The Society will continue to monitor the situation closely and take necessary action should any attempt be made to revive the project.

Mr. Sanjeeva Jayawardena Presidents Counsel with Prashanthi Mahindaratne, Dilumi de Alwis, Revan Weerasinghe and Rukshan Senadheera Attorneys-at-law instructed by S W Amila Kumara appeared on behalf of WNPS

WNPS had filed the petition challenging the Cabinet decision to award the tender to the Adani Group, authorizing the Government of Sri Lanka to enter into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Adani at a rate of 8.26 US cents per kWh unit for the next 20 years.

If implemented, the Adani wind power project would have marked the largest renewable energy investment in Sri Lanka, valued at US$1 billion.

It was proposed to be the country’s largest wind power plant, with a capacity of 484 MW, expected to be completed in record time. (Newswire)

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The Adani Group on Thursday said that it has pulled out of further engagement in a $442 million wind power venture in Sri Lanka after the country’s authorities attempted to modify the agreement.

In a media statement, the group wrote, “Adani Green Energy has conveyed its Board’s decision to respectfully withdraw from further engagement in the RE wind energy project and two transmission projects in Sri Lanka. However, we remain committed to Sri Lanka and are open to future collaboration if the Government of Sri Lanka so desires.” (Newswire)

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India’s Adani Green Energy has reportedly decided to withdraw from its US$1 billion wind energy project in Sri Lanka.

Despite securing most approvals, the company cited delays, including unresolved environmental clearance and a Supreme Court case.

With a new committee set to renegotiate terms, Adani Green has reportedly informed Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment (BOI) of its decision to “respectfully withdraw”, but remains open to future collaborations, Newswire learns.

However, an official statement from the Adani Group is yet to be released, while an official response from Sri Lanka is also awaited. (Newswire)

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Adani Green Energy’s share price fell as reports emerged of Sri Lanka cancelling the conglomerate’s over $400 million project, India Today reported.

Adani Green Energy shares opened the day at Rs 1039.45 after having closed at Rs 1021.45. The stock gained initially and reached a day’s high of Rs 1065.45.

However, Adani Green Energy shares fell after the news of Sri Lanka reportedly cancelling the power purchase deal to hit the day’s low of Rs 1,008, crashing over 6% from the day’s high, India Today’s report added.

Earlier today, local media reported that the National Peoples’ Power (NPP) government has decided to revoke the contract awarded to India’s Adani Group for the 484 MW of wind power plants in Mannar and Pooneryn signed under the Ranil Wickremesinghe regime in June last year.

When inquired by Newswire, a Senior Government official said the decision was taken as the Adani Green Energy SL Ltd has proposed US cents 8.26 per kilowatt hour while local bidders have offered prices as low as 4.88 US cents.

He further said that as the revocation requires a standard procedure, the Cabinet of Ministers has appointed a committee to review the agreement and submit recommendations.

He said the newly appointed committee is tasked with reviewing issues surrounding the contract, such as government-to-government and environmental.

Stating that the committee has commenced its process to review the contract, he said that based on the committee’s recommendations, the government will take a final decision on the Adani project.

In February 2023, Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment (BOI) approved Adani Green Energy’s $442-million wind power project, with plants planned for Mannar and Pooneryn in Northern Sri Lanka.

Since then, the project faced legal challenges, with its details being subjected to Supreme Court review.

Adani Group, led by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, is also involved in the development of a $700-million container terminal at the Colombo Port, adding to its growing presence in Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

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Adani Power is exploring ways to sell the Bangladesh-bound power, produced at the Godda plant in India’s Jharkhand state, to neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka.

The Jharkhand plant with 2X800 MW capacity is a dedicated project of Adani Power to supply electricity to Bangladesh. The company has reduced the quantum of power supply from the plant to Bangladesh amid some issues due to political changes in Bangladesh.

Although the Indian government recently allowed the sales of power in the domestic market to sustain the project, a fresh transmission network is necessary in this regard, according to The Hindu Business Line.

However, the selling power to Sri Lanka from the Godda plant will require consent from the Bangladesh government.

“I believe they will require the consent of the Bangladesh Power Development Authority for sales of power to Sri Lanka from the Godda plant,” Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, the adviser for the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh, told the Indian news outlet. (Financial Express)

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Billionaire Gautam Adani-owned Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) Limited has withdrawn from a $553 million loan pact with the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to develop a port terminal in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo, outlets such as Bloomberg, Reuters and PTI have reported.

The reports, based on a Monday night filing by APSEZ, claimed the company would finance the project through its internal accruals and capital management plan.

“The project will be financed through the company’s internal accruals and capital management plan. We have withdrawn our request for financing from the DFC,” the filing read.

However, there was no mention of the indictment of Adani and his aides in a US court for allegedly promising to pay $265 million to Indian government officials for solar energy projects, and concealing the plan as they sought to raise money from American investors.

Adani, the second-richest person in Asia behind compatriot Mukesh Ambani, and Adani Ports have rejected the bribery charge.

The indictment has kicked up a political storm in India, where opposition parties have repeatedly accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ‘favouring’ the industrialist. Both are from the same state, Gujarat.

Separately, Sri Lanka’s newly-elected President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, will be in India from December 15-17 for his maiden foreign visit after taking office.

The Colombo Port project

The loan agreement for the Colombo port terminal was signed last year amid US enthusiasm to offer an alternative to China for infrastructure investment in the developing world.

While no portion of the financing has been disbursed, construction work has commenced for the project, which has local partners as well. (Hindustan Times)

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India’s Adani Group conglomerate said Wednesday it had suffered a staggering loss of nearly $55 billion since US corruption charges against top officials, accusations the company denies.

“Since the intimation of the US DoJ (Department of Justice) indictment, the group has suffered a loss of nearly $55 billion in its market capitalisation across its 11 listed companies,” it said in a statement.

The November 20 bombshell indictment in New York accused billionaire industrialist founder Gautam Adani and multiple subordinates of deliberately misleading international investors as part of the bribery scheme.

It said they had “devised a scheme to offer, authorise, make and promise to make bribes payments to Indian government officials”.

Adani Group issued a stiff denial, describing the charges as “baseless”.

A statement on Wednesday said Adani officials are “only charged” with securities fraud, wire fraud conspiracy and securities fraud.

Adani is a close ally of Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was at one point the world’s second-richest man, and critics have long accused him of improperly benefitting from their relationship.

The group said the action had led to “significant repercussions”, including “international project cancellations, financial market impact and sudden examination from strategic partners, investors and the public”.

With a business empire spanning coal, airports, cement and media, Adani Group has weathered previous corporate fraud allegations and suffered a similar stock crash last year.

The conglomerate saw $150 billion wiped from its market value in 2023 after a report by short-seller Hindenburg Research accused it of “brazen” corporate fraud.

Denying Hindenburg’s allegations, Adani called its report a “deliberate attempt” to damage its image for the benefit of short-sellers. (AFP)

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Federal prosecutors in New York charged the Indian tycoon Gautam Adani, one of the world’s richest people, with multiple counts of fraud on Wednesday, accusing him and associates of bribing Indian officials and later lying to investors about the scheme.

Mr. Adani, who has amassed a fortune estimated to be over $85 billion from the Adani Group, a conglomerate with holdings in ports, coal mines and airports, was charged with wire and securities fraud by the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York, the office said in a statement.

The defendants are accused of paying more than $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials to obtain solar energy contracts worth billions of dollars for Adani Green Energy, a renewable energy company majority-owned by Adani Group. Mr. Adani discussed the bribery plan with officials in person, prosecutors said.

Adani Green Energy then tried to raise money from U.S. and international investors with a 2021 bond offering on the basis of false and misleading statements about the firm’s anti-corruption and anti-bribery efforts, according to the indictment.

“As alleged, the defendants orchestrated an elaborate scheme to bribe Indian government officials to secure contracts worth billions of dollars,” Breon Peace, the U.S. attorney for the district, said in a statement. Mr. Adani and his associates “lied about the bribery scheme as they sought to raise capital from U.S. and international investors.”

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a parallel civil case saying Adani Green Energy raised more than $175 million from U.S. investors. One of Mr. Adani’s associates was charged with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits companies that operate in the United States from bribing foreign officials.

Other executives at Mr. Adani’s energy company who were charged Wednesday included Sagar R. Adani, a nephew of Mr. Adani, and Vneet S. Jaain. The government also indicted former employees of a Canadian institutional investor, including Deepak Malhotra, who are accused of conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and conspiring to obstruct investigations into the bribery scheme and a grand jury.

A lawyer for Gautam Adani could not be immediately reached for comment. A lawyer for Sagar Adani declined to comment. Mike Kendall, a lawyer for Mr. Malhotra, said his client “is innocent of the charges.”

According to the indictment, the defendants kept track of their bribes and offers to Indian officials using messaging apps, phones and PowerPoint presentations, sometimes using “code names” in their communications. Several of the defendants referred to Gautam Adani as “SAG,” “Mr. A,” “Numero uno” and “the big man,” the indictment said. Mr. Jaain was called “V,” “snake” and “Numero uno minus one.”

The government goes on to claim that two of the defendants engaged in discussions to delete “incriminating electronic materials, including emails, electronic messages and a PowerPoint analysis.”

While Gautam Adani’s investments in critical infrastructure have made him a powerful force in the Indian economy, his political connections have also set him apart. At the heart of them is a personal relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has helped Mr. Adani’s company win lucrative contracts. In some instances, the government has changed bidding rules to help the company gain control of airports.

Mr. Adani and Mr. Modi are both from the state of Gujarat, and when Mr. Modi became prime minister in 2014, he flew to New Delhi on an Adani plane. Their relationship has created a widespread perception in India that Mr. Adani can forge any deal he wants, and that there is an uneven playing field.

Mr. Adani has rejected claims of special treatment, saying the foundations of his business were laid when the Indian government relaxed trade restrictions in the 1980s, long before Mr. Modi led the country.

As U.S. prosecutors tell it, the seeds for the bribery scheme involving Mr. Adani were planted between December 2019 and July 2020. Adani Green Energy and another renewable-energy company listed on the New York Stock Exchange won contracts with the Solar Energy Corporation of India, a state-owned company that tries to increase renewable energy use in the country.

Adani Green Energy proclaimed at the time that it had won “the world’s largest solar award.”

It was a $6 billion investment in solar energy, and over 20 years, it was expected to generate more than $2 billion in profit after taxes, according to the indictment. But there was an unintended consequence — the energy was expensive for states in India, and the Solar Energy Corporation of India struggled to find customers to sign on.

In 2020, Mr. Adani and his associates used bribes to help convince Indian states to use their solar energy, prosecutors said. They promised Indian officials approximately $265 million, prosecutors said in the indictment, including $228 million to a single unnamed official, who secured a deal for electricity providers in the state of Andhra Pradesh to purchase seven gigawatts of solar energy.

Between 2021 and February 2022, states and regions including Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir also decided to sign up for the solar power. Around the same time, more individuals joined the bribery scheme, including former employees of a Canadian institutional investor that was the largest shareholder of the energy company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the indictment said.

Prosecutors said Sagar Adani, Mr. Adani’s nephew, used his cellphone to track details on the bribes offered and promised to officials. For every official, Sagar Adani identified their state or region, how much they were offered and the amount of solar power their region would purchase in exchange for the kickback.

Between 2020 and 2024, Mr. Adani and his associates gave false and misleading information to investors while raising money for the energy venture, the indictment said. Mr. Adani and his nephew lied to investors when their businesses took out a $1.35 billion loan and issued $750 million in bonds in 2021, according to the government, and also did not tell investors about U.S. investigations into their business practices in 2023 and 2024.

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, enacted in 1977 but more stringently enforced only in recent decades, has led to huge fines for companies, including Germany’s engineering giant Siemens; Brazil’s state-owned energy company, Petrobras; and a subsidiary of Halliburton, the oil services company. Bribery of foreign officials was also a key element in a vast scandal that involved a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund called 1MDB and entangled the investment bank Goldman Sachs.

President-elect Donald J. Trump wanted to strike down the law during his first term because he considered it unfair to American companies, according to two Washington Post reporters in a book published in 2020. Another critic of the law is Jay Clayton, whom Mr. Trump has chosen to become U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Mr. Clayton argued in a 2011 paper that the United States’ anti-bribery policies tended “to place disproportionate burdens on U.S. regulated companies in international transactions,” hurting American competitiveness.

Mr. Adani congratulated Mr. Trump on his election in a post on X last Wednesday, promising to invest $10 billion in “U.S. energy security and resilient infrastructure projects” and create up to 15,000 jobs.

Nearly two years ago, Mr. Adani’s Adani Group was accused of “brazen accounting fraud, stock manipulation and money laundering” by Hindenburg Research, a small investment firm in New York. The Adani Group denied those claims, but its stock price cratered after the report. (New York Times)

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The current interim Cabinet has decided to reconsider the matters related to the wind power project in Wedithalathivu, Mannar by India’s Adani Group. 

The Cabinet decision was conveyed to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka by the Attorney General when the FR petitions filed seeking an order to invalidate the previous Cabinet’s approval for the wind power project were taken up for consideration today.

The court was informed that the interim Cabinet has decided to reconsider the facts related to the project on November 07, 2024, after which a decision will be taken on the further continuation of the project.

The Attorney General further said that the interim Cabinet has requested for an extended date to communicate its decision to the court which will be finalized by the new Cabinet of Ministers to be appointed after the 2024 General Election.

The petitioners then requested the court for permission to revise the relevant petitions as the respondents of the case had changed with the change in government, to which the Supreme Court granted permission. 

The Supreme Court also ordered that any observation of the government related to the project be filed before January 31, 2025.

Fundamental Rights petitions were filed by five parties, including the Centre for Environmental Justice, against the Adani wind power project.

The petitioners argued that the proposed wind farm poses significant threats to ecological biodiversity and the safety of migratory birds. (Newswire)

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Feasibility studies and environmental reports for the Adani project to develop wind power stations in Mannar and Poonerin are still in progress, State Minister for Power and Energy Indika Anuruddha said.

The State Minister said once these are completed, it will be discussed whether the project can proceed under the current pricing conditions.

In 2022, the Cabinet of Ministers approved to enter into a memorandum of understanding with M/s Adani Green Energy Limited of India to develop wind power stations. 

The prices were approved following the recommendations of the negotiation committee appointed to evaluate the project proposal put forth by M/s Adani Green Energy Limited. Approval was also granted to award this tender to Adani Green Energy SL Limited for a period of 20 years.

In May this year, the Cabinet approved to purchase of power at $0.0826 per KW for the electricity generated under the Adani project to develop wind power stations in Mannar and Poonerin.

At the time, the government said in a statement, that the rates paid in Sri Lankan rupees will be subject to foreign exchange rate changes.

Commenting on the Adani project, State Minister Indika Anuruddha said it will be discussed whether the project can proceed under the current pricing conditions following the completion of the necessary feasibility studies.

He made the remarks at a media briefing at the Presidential Media Centre on Thursday (July 04).

The State Minister further said due to the success of the debt restructuring activities, the projects related to the energy sector, which were stalled during the last crisis, will be re-implemented and it will be of great help in solving the power crisis.

Stating that agreements for debt restructuring have been signed with bilateral creditor countries, he said this has resolved the legal issues necessary to restart these foreign-funded projects. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s main opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has questioned the government’s approval of the proposed project to develop wind power stations in Mannar and Pooneryn with M/s Adani Green Energy Limited of India.

Addressing the media, former SJB MP Ajith P. Perera said a large-scale financial fraud is being carried out due to the government, especially President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera, giving away the wind power sector in Sri Lanka’s power industry. 

Backing his claims, SJB’s Perera said the government has approved the purchase of power at $0.0826 per KW for the electricity generated under the proposed project to develop wind power stations in Mannar and Poonerin by M/s Adani Green Energy Limited of India.

Stating that the project had been awarded to the Adani Group without calling for tenders, SJB’s Perera said this would cause Sri Lanka to lose millions of dollars in loss for 20 years. 

He said, however, that the wind power station proposed by WindForce PLC, which owns a 100% effective holding in Hiruras Power (Pvt) Ltd, offers almost half the price quoted by the Adani Group, for the purchase of electricity.

“The CEB has called for tenders and has picked WindForce PLC to construct a 50 MW wind power station in Mannar,” he said. 

The former SJB MP pointed out that WindForce PLC has quoted $0.0488 per KW to provide electricity, which is half the price of what has been offered by the Adani Group. 

Ajith P. Perera said the government has engaged in a large-scale fraud via the wind power project by the Adani Group and that Sri Lanka will incur a loss of over a billion US Dollars. (Newswire)

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The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) has filed a fundamental rights application in the Supreme Court challenging the recent cabinet decision to award a wind power project in Mannar Island to Adani Green Energy Limited of India.

The Petitioner WNPS is represented by President’s Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardana with Prashanthi Mahindarathe, Revan Weerasinghe and Rukshan Senadheera, instructed by S.W.A Amila Kumara.

WNPS argues that the project poses a severe threat to the island’s unique biodiversity and pristine landscapes especially in the Mannar Island. The island itself is home to several protected areas such as the Adam’s Bridge National Park, the Viduthalaithivu National Park and the Vankalai Sanctuary, declared RAMSAR wetlands only a few months ago by Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi.

They argued that Mannar is the southernmost point of the Central Asian Flyway used by innumerable migratory species, while also being home to several indigenous water bird and bat species.

WNPS contends that the decision to approve the project was made without any appreciation of Mannar’s singular positioning as a biodiversity hub, violating both national environmental protection laws as well as international Conventions.

The island’s diverse ecosystems, including mangroves, coral reefs, and wetlands, play a crucial role in maintaining the region’s environmental balance. The organization states that a severe threat exists that the construction and operation of the wind power project could lead to irreversible damage to these ecosystems.

The Petitioner contends that the manner and form of these actions by various authorities grossly abuse the public trust placed in authorities like the Forest Department and Department of Wildlife that have blithely ignored the irreparable ramifications of this project in a protected area replete with vulnerable species and war affected population struggling to survive.

The proposed Adani project will potentially raise the number of turbines on Mannar Island to 82, supplementing the 30 turbines already existing as part of the Thambapawani project which has already caused staggering numbers of bird deaths, more than anticipated by the ornithologists consulted on the project.

If allowed to continue unabated the extension to the Adani project – titled Phase III – will pockmark Mannar island with 103 turbines across nearly 66% of Mannar’s land mass which has been declared Energy Development Areas.

The WNPS said that it also challenges the credibility of the Environmental Impact Assessment carried out by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Sri Lanka [SEASL] on behalf of Adani Green Energy. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to purchase power at $0.0826 cents per KW for the electricity generated under the proposed project to develop wind power stations in Mannar and Poonerin.

The rates paid in Sri Lankan rupees will be subject to foreign exchange rate changes, the government said in a statement. 

In 2022, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to enter into a memorandum of understanding with M/s Adani Green Energy Limited of India to develop the wind power stations. The prices had been approved following the recommendations of the negotiation committee appointed to evaluate the project proposal put forth by M/s Adani Green Energy Limited.

Approval had also been granted to award this tender to Adani Green Energy SL Limited for a period of 20 years. (Newswire)

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India’s Adani Group has expressed appreciation for the joint efforts taken by various development partners in supporting the transformative West Container Terminal project in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 

Taking to ‘X’, Chairman of the Adani Group, Gautam Adani congratulated the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Sri Lankan Government, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, and local partners John Keells Group for their joint efforts related to the development project.

“This initiative is set to generate significant employment opportunities, boost economic growth, and enhance regional shipping capacity. The Adani Group is proud to be a part of this journey,” Gautam Adani further said. 

In September 2021, the Adani Group signed an agreement with local partners John Keells Holdings, and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority to jointly develop the West Container Terminal (WCT) at the Colombo Port.

At the time, the Adani Group signed a build-operate-transfer (BOT) agreement with an investment exceeding USD 700 million.

This week (Nov 08), the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation announced a commitment of US$ 553 million to support the development of a deepwater shipping container terminal in the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka.

The US Embassy in Colombo said the development project will provide critical infrastructure for the South Asian region.

DFC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Scott Nathan travelled to Sri Lanka to launch $553 million in financing to Colombo West International Terminal Private Limited to support the development of the deepwater West Container Terminal located within the Port of Colombo.

The Port of Colombo is the largest and busiest transhipment port in the Indian Ocean. It has been operating at more than 90 per cent utilization since 2021, signalling its need for additional capacity. The new terminal will cater to growing economies in the Bay of Bengal, taking advantage of Sri Lanka’s prime position on major shipping routes and its proximity to these expanding markets. (NewsWire)

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Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda who is to relinquish duties at the end of this month, was hosted by two top corporate leaders in India recently.

According to the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi, Adani Group’s Chairman Gautam Adani hosted High Commissioner Moragoda at a farewell dinner at his residence on Tuesday (Sep 05). 

Earlier this week, the High Commissioner was hosted for a farewell lunch by the Chairman of the Hinduja Group Europe, Prakash Hinduja.

On both occasions, High Commissioner Moragoda recalled the close interactions he had had with these two top businessmen and thanked them for the assistance that they had extended to him during his tenure in Delhi.

Founded by Gautam Adani in 1988, Adani Group is one of the largest corporations in India and its businesses include port management, electric power generation and transmission, renewable energy, mining, airport operations, natural gas, food processing and infrastructure.

Hinduja Group is a top Indian transnational conglomerate, which is present in eleven sectors including automotive, oil and speciality chemicals, banking and finance, power etc. It owns the automotive manufacturer, Ashok Leyland.

The High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi added that both Groups have invested substantially in Sri Lanka. (NewsWire)

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