Colombo, Sri Lanka – Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has defended the Sri Lankan government’s handling of renewable energy projects, including the controversial deals with India’s Adani Group and Sri Lanka’s Hayleys, amid renewed criticism and political accusations as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to visit the island nation.
In a detailed public statement, Wickremesinghe addressed allegations made against the Adani Group, warning against politicizing the issue at a time when diplomatic relations with India are crucial.
“If people say these projects were influenced by money, who exactly is giving the money? Is it Adani? Then are you accusing Adani of breaking the laws of India and Sri Lanka?” he asked. “It is not good to drag stories like this when Prime Minister Modi is coming.”
He clarified that all renewable energy projects approved between 2023 and 2024—valued between $2 billion to $2.5 billion—went through proper evaluations. Committees from the Ministry of Finance and the Cabinet were involved in reviewing proposals, and all pricing decisions were made based on formal reports from qualified officials.
Wickremesinghe specifically highlighted the differences between the 50MW Hayleys project and the Adani-led projects in Mannar. He noted that while Hayleys received existing government infrastructure and land allocations, Adani had to independently acquire land, repeat feasibility studies, and pay for environmental assessments—thus justifying cost variations.
“Everything was done through proper procedures and honest officials. These decisions were taken based on their reports,” he said, refuting corruption claims.
The former president urged the current administration to clarify any decision to halt projects transparently and responsibly, rather than allowing rumors and speculation to dominate the discourse. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum in Indo-Sri Lanka energy cooperation under the 2023 and 2024 joint declarations.
“This is not the time for political mudslinging. We must move forward with India, not backward,” he said.
Wickremesinghe’s comments appear to be a veiled response to statements made by current President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who has criticized aspects of the Adani deal and questioned its transparency.
With Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka imminent, Wickremesinghe called for national unity and a focus on long-term energy and diplomatic strategies instead of public confrontation.
