The first wind-solar hybrid power plant is to be set up in the Jaffna district. This plant will provide electricity round the clock to dwellers in three islands who now get electricity only for few hours a day, said Power Minister Dullas Alahapperuma in Parliament yesterday. He refuted allegations that there is an attempt to grant the islands, including the Delft Island to China. He said this was a canard spread by the Opposition and certain media. He said that that so far the Tender of the same project has not been granted to any party. He also assured that the Government would never work to the agenda of any other country.
The Minister made these observations in response to a Supplementary Query made by Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Chaminda Wijesiri during the round of Oral Questions, whether the Government was attempting to grant the Delft and other islands to China to make the country a colony of China.
Minister Alahapperuma said that the dwellers in those islands in the Jaffna district enjoy the supply of electricity only for a few hours a day. Electricity is generated using diesel and hence the people there are suffering a lot, which is unfair. He added the Government will address the issues of the Jaffna people. He added the first Tender for this project was cancelled as all applicants failed. Four institutions have applied for the second international Tender. One is from China and the lowest bid is from a company in India.
So far the Cabinet has not granted approval for this one as the Treasury has asked for a detailed description on the technology of the project. He added that the Indian High Commissioner said that the Indian Government was ready to make a grant on this matter if the technical report is presented. He said so far the Tender has not been granted.