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Sri Lanka tells India difficult to go ahead with Sampur coal project
18 May, 2016
The Government has told India it is difficult to go ahead with the Sampur coal project owing to environment concerns.
Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne told reporters today that President Maithripala Sirisena had discussed the project with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the President visited India recently.
Senaratne said that the President had said at the meeting that several environmental groups have raised concerns over the coal power project.
The President has said that keeping the environment in mind he is finding it difficult to go ahead with the project.
Sirisena said that the President had proposed to Modi that India fund a?Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) power plant in Sampur instead of a coal power plant.
Senaratne quoted Sirisena as saying the Indian Prime Minister had responded positively to the request and talks in this regard will be held in the near future.
Asked if the Sampur project has now been cancelled?Senaratne said that such projects cannot be cancelled in a day or two and future talks between India and Sri Lanka will determine the next step. (Colombo Gazette)
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