Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Making another revelation with regard to the Yugadanavi agreement, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today said that the same person has signed as the witness for both sides representing the Government and the US Company.

Former JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti told a news conference that they could imagine why the agreement was not presented in Parliament.

“According to clause 35 of the agreement, Finance Ministry Secretary Sujith Ruchira Attygalle has signed on behalf of the Government. Former power Ministry Secretary M.M.C. Ferdinando, who is said to be the advisor to the Finance Ministry, has signed as witness. He now appears in media as CEB Chairman as well. But, he has signed the agreement as an advisor to the Finance Ministry. A person named Daniel Christopher has signed the agreement on behalf of the NFE Power Holdings Sri Lanka. The witness of the Government has signed as the witness of the US Company as well. Is it possible in an agreement?” he asked.

He also said the second witness Nimalka Morahela, who is the project coordinator has signed the agreement as the witness to both the Government and the US Company.

“She has earlier served in the Tourist Board projects. We don’t know if she had been in the power projects. She also has signed on behalf of the US Company. It means that two Sri Lankans have signed on behalf of the US Company. We can imagine as to why this agreement was not presented to the Cabinet and Parliament,” he said.

Mr. Handunnetti said Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa had presented another Cabinet Paper on December 13 saying that the first proposal to introduce LNG projects had presented in the Cabinet in 2019. It was also mentioned in the Cabinet paper that it was referred to the BOI in 2020 to act accordingly. People should know what action has been taken by the BOI. It is said that the then Power Minister Mahinda Amaraweera had recommended the New Fortress Energy Company. We like to know what Amaraweera has to say about this Cabinet paper,” he said.  

He also said the Cabinet had approved to sell only 40% shares belonging to the Finance Ministry Secretary and added that according to the agreement, 40% of the shares belonging to the all four parties Leco, EPF, Lakdanavi and Finance Ministry had been sold instead. 

He said in page four of the agreement, it was mentioned that 50% of shares had been given to affiliated companies.

“What are these affiliated Companies? If the agreement was signed to hand over 40% shares, why were 50% shares mentioned?” he questioned, adding that the agreement had been signed with the intention of obtaining more shares.

He said they were only revealing basic facts on the agreement and that there were more dangerous hidden facts.(Ajith Siriwardana)