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Proposed LNG power plant in Muthurajawela: No final decision yet, CEA confirms 

17 Jul 2021

  • EIA up for public review till 17 August 
  • Archbishop writes to CEA DG, urges non-approval 
  • Govt. to hand over Muthurajawela to DWC upon UDA conservation 
  • Environment Minister to visit site in two weeks 
  BY YUMIKO PERERA   A final decision is yet to be reached on the proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant to be built in the Muthurajawela Urban Buffer Zone (UBZ), The Sunday Morning learnt.  Speaking with The Sunday Morning, Central Environmental Authority (CEA) Director General (DG) Hemantha Jayasinghe said: "A final decision has not been made in this regard as of yet.”  “The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is still open for public review until 17 August.”  Furthermore, he added that discussions are presently ongoing.  In 2018, the Government took measures to de-gazette a 110-acre area of land from the Muthurajawela UBZ which is to be filled for the proposed project to commence.  Meanwhile, in a recent letter addressed to CEA DG Jayasinghe, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith had requested the CEA to refrain from granting approval to the aforementioned LNG power plant project.   He had cited that the EIA had not been conducted duly with regard to assessing the impact on the animal and plant species in and around the Muthurajawela Wetland.  Furthermore, a silent protest was held in front of the St. Nicholas Church in Bopitiya on 11 July, with the participation of religious figures and residents, to stop the potential harm that could occur if the aforementioned project is to commence.  Colombo Archdiocese Social Relations Unit Head Fr. Jude Chrishantha, citing reasons for the protests, had told The Morning that the Muthurajawela Wetland served as the lungs in the Western Province and as a natural deterrent against flooding in the region.  Also, the Archbishop’s House is currently in the process of seeking an injunction order to halt the potential development of the aforementioned project.  However, speaking to the media on Wednesday (14), Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera had stated that the Government is dedicated to conserving Muthurajawela as a protected zone, and therefore, would be handing it over to the Wildlife Conservation Department (DWC) after the Urban Development Authority (UDA) takes necessary steps to conserve it.   Minister Amaraweera reiterated that he would visit the site with all the relevant factions within the next two weeks in order to discuss the matter in detail, The Sunday Morning learnt.  However, several attempts by The Sunday Morning to contact Minister Amaraweera proved futile.   Fr. Jayantha Nimal of St. Nicholas Church, Bopitiya, had on 15 July claimed that the posters that had been put up in the Muthurajawela area against the said power plant had been taken down by the law enforcement authorities.  Speaking with The Sunday Morning on Friday (16), Fr. Sagara Hettiarachchi  said that silent protests would commence if the need arises. The Catholic Church is yet to receive an update on the progress of the matter at hand, he noted.   

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