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Sajith raises corruption concerns over proposed solar power project

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Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa has accused the government of corruption concerning the recently approved Solar Power Project in Killinochchi.

Issuing a special statement, MP Premadasa alleged that the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with an Australia-based firm – United Solar Energy raises doubts as the company engages in solar panel distribution and not Battery Storage projects.

Noting that the capacity of the largest solar energy farm in Australia is 400Mw, while the capacity of the planned solar farm is 700Mw, the Opposition leader questions how a company with lack of expertise can handle such a project.

Mr. Premadasa also states that according to estimates, the project requires a surface area of 782 acres while the project lifetime is stated as 35 years despite the lifetime of a solar panel is 25 years.

Noting that United Solar Energy is founded and chaired by Richard Vargas who is a solar panel agent and distributor, the opposition leader says that a one Sujeewa Nishantha from Hambantota is working as the company accountant. In addition, Board members Kero Thilakarathne, Alex Chandrasiri and Shan Balasuriya are working as a real estate agent, a hotel food & beverage manager and a website designer respectively, Mr. Premadasa adds, questioning whether such people are capable of undertaking such a mammoth project.

MP Premadasa’s allegations come after the Cabinet this week approved to enter into a Power Purchase Agreement with United Solar Group of Australia for the 700 MW  Solar Power Project with a 1500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System.

Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera announced the decision on X earlier this week.

He further said that the Solar Power Project will be established with a Foreign Direct Investment of USD 1,727 million and the power project will be installed on the surface of the Poonakary Tank in the Kilinochchi District in the Northern province of Sri Lanka.

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Cabinet approval for Power Purchase Project with Australian firm

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Cabinet approval for China’s grant of school uniform material

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Prime Minister as the Minister of Education, Science and Technology to accept the Chinese Government’s grant for providing uniforms to all school students for the year 2025.

China has agreed to provide the grant and this was announced by the Chinese ambassador in Colombo – Mr. Qi Zhenhong several days ago.

Samples have been tested and approved for use by the Sri Lanka Textile and Garment Institute (SLITA).

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Trump declares victory

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Donald Trump declares victory in the US election as he addresses jubilant supporters in Florida.
“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” he says to cheering crowds.

The Republican has picked up the battleground states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia, leaving Kamala Harris with only a narrow path to victory.

Just before Trump began speaking, Fox News projected that he had won the election.

(BBC News)

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4 ex-Customs officers sentenced to 35 yrs. RI over bribery charges

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The Colombo High Court has sentenced four former officials of Sri Lanka Customs to 35 years of rigorous imprisonment each after they were found guilty of the charges of accepting a bribe of Rs. 125 million in 2015 to release bus spare parts imported for the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB).

Furthermore, Colombo High Court Judge Namal Balalle also fined each of them Rs. 125 million while delivering the verdict in the case this morning (06).

The four former officials of Sri Lanka Customs were found guilty over the charges of accepting a bribe of Rs. 125 million from a businessman in the Panchikawatta area in 2015, in order to release from Customs a stock of bus spare parts imported to be supplied for the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB).

(adaderana.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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