The final decision on Adani’s wind power project in Sri Lanka will be made following the conclusion of an ongoing court case, according to Ministry of Energy Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Prof. Hemapala stated that a timeline for the final decision on the Adani project could be established upon receiving clearance from the court.
The court hearing, in which the ministry is also a respondent, is expected soon, although an exact timeline has not been confirmed.
“Whenever they give the clearance, we are ready for the next phase,” he added.
Despite the Adani Group announcing its withdrawal from the wind power project, the company has reportedly expressed interest in renegotiating the tariff with the Government.
However, Prof. Hemapala noted that the ministry could not determine whether negotiations would proceed until the court issued its ruling.
In the event Adani’s withdrawal is confirmed, the ministry plans to initiate a fresh tendering process. However, this will require the lease of the land currently allocated to Adani to be officially revoked and transferred back to the Government – a process that could take a significant amount of time.
Prof. Hemapala also clarified that no Expressions of Interest (EOIs) had been received from other developers, as the ministry did not follow an EOI-based approach. Instead, projects are awarded through a structured bidding process, wherein interested parties submit technical and financial proposals for evaluation.
The Court of Appeal has moved the Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed seeking an order to invalidate the agreement reached by the Government of Sri Lanka with India’s Adani Green Energy for a wind power project in Vidataltivu, Mannar to 23 May.
The petition filed by Green Movement of Sri Lanka (GMSL) Chairman Sankha Chandima Abhayawardena was taken up before Appeals Court Justice U.M.B. Karaliyadda on 16 January.
During the trial, the State Counsel had informed the Court of Appeal that several crucial cases pertaining to this project were scheduled to be taken up before the Supreme Court in March.
It is also reported that Sri Lanka is reviewing a letter from the Adani Group regarding its stance on wind power projects in the country.
This follows the Adani Group’s withdrawal from a previous agreement, prompting the Ministry of Energy to seek clarification from Adani Green Energy Ltd.
Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody confirmed that a response had been received and was currently being studied.
Opposition legislator Ajith P. Perera suggested that competitive bidding could lead to lower prices for wind projects, referencing successful bidding practices in India.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Adani for a wind power site in Pooneryn and the Mannar project is also involved in legal disputes. Currently, Sri Lanka cannot re-tender the wind projects until the complications are resolved.
Out of the identified 400 MW of wind potential in Mannar, 103 MW has been developed by the Ceylon Electricity Board, 50 MW has been awarded at US cents 4.65, and the remaining 250 MW is linked to the Adani project.