The revelation by former Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman M.M.C. Ferdinando that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had instructed him to award the tender for an energy project in Mannar to India’s Adani Group, and that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been pushing for the same, led to only one thing – Ferdinando’s prompt resignation.
However, whether what he said during the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) meeting does not seem to be under investigation, despite the fact that he let loose an explosive revelation that concerns public funds, the future of the country’s economy, the energy sector, Indo-Lanka ties, transparency that should be showcased by the public sector, and most importantly, the sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
Ferdinando’s response to his own comments, conveyed to COPE Chairman Prof. Charitha Herath, was that he had been, in his own words, “compelled without limitation” to refer to the “Indian Prime Minister”, due to "unexpected pressure and emotions” experienced during the COPE meeting.
However, Ferdinando’s controversial allegations do not seem to have been an accidental statement made under confusion or under pressure, because he had mentioned the same earlier, officially. In a letter dated 25 November 2021, addressed to then-Treasury and Finance Ministry Secretary S.R. Attygalle, Ferdinado had stated that he had been directed by the President to facilitate Adani Green Energy Ltd. to develop 500 megawatts of wind and solar renewable energy projects in Mannar and Pooneryn.
Just a day after the above COPE meeting, the President had issued a statement in which the latter denied the aforementioned claims, noting that he had not given authorisation to award a wind power project in Mannar to any person or any institution.
The President’s denial of Ferdinando’s claims was expected; still, the entire issue is a matter that should be investigated and discussed, despite the President’s response.
The immediate question this incident raises is whether Ferdinando’s comments were actually a result of him being stressed or confused during the COPE meeting. If it was in fact a result of such circumstances, he owes another, more honest, explanation to the country with regard to what he said in the letter to Attygalle. Moreover, this calls for a closer look at Ferdinando’s competence as the head of a major State institution, as an individual in such a position is not expected to cave into “pressure or emotion” in such a situation, as he had done.
In fact, it is not Ferdinando’s previous statement, but his subsequent resignation and explanation to the COPE Chairman that raises suspicions, and should therefore receive attention. In a context where Ferdinando has made two statements implying the same, the factors that caused him to retract his statement are a pressing concern. What of his first statement? Was he forced to retract his second statement made at the COPE meeting and to tender his resignation? Such matters should be investigated by the President, especially if the latter denies these allegations. Considering that this is a matter that concerns public funds and Indo-Sri Lanka relations, alongside several other factors, the President should not ignore the gravity of this situation.
The issue of public officials being forced into certain decisions and subsequently hiding information that is of public interest, is an open secret Sri Lanka has been struggling with for a long time, and there are many examples to prove this point. If public officials cannot reveal matters that concern public funds and the future of the public due to the fear of backlash from the Government or higher authorities, that is a situation that will worsen the plethora of authoritarian issues that have plagued Sri Lanka’s public sector.
Therefore, this is not a matter that should come to an end with the CEB Chairman’s resignation. The Government has to answer to India, whose government was also implicated by the allegations, but more importantly, to the Sri Lankan public, whose funds are still being utilised in this regard.The punishable offence of truth
15 Jun 2022
The punishable offence of truth
15 Jun 2022
The revelation by former Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman M.M.C. Ferdinando that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had instructed him to award the tender for an energy project in Mannar to India’s Adani Group, and that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been pushing for the same, led to only one thing – Ferdinando’s prompt resignation.
However, whether what he said during the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) meeting does not seem to be under investigation, despite the fact that he let loose an explosive revelation that concerns public funds, the future of the country’s economy, the energy sector, Indo-Lanka ties, transparency that should be showcased by the public sector, and most importantly, the sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
Ferdinando’s response to his own comments, conveyed to COPE Chairman Prof. Charitha Herath, was that he had been, in his own words, “compelled without limitation” to refer to the “Indian Prime Minister”, due to "unexpected pressure and emotions” experienced during the COPE meeting.
However, Ferdinando’s controversial allegations do not seem to have been an accidental statement made under confusion or under pressure, because he had mentioned the same earlier, officially. In a letter dated 25 November 2021, addressed to then-Treasury and Finance Ministry Secretary S.R. Attygalle, Ferdinado had stated that he had been directed by the President to facilitate Adani Green Energy Ltd. to develop 500 megawatts of wind and solar renewable energy projects in Mannar and Pooneryn.
Just a day after the above COPE meeting, the President had issued a statement in which the latter denied the aforementioned claims, noting that he had not given authorisation to award a wind power project in Mannar to any person or any institution.
The President’s denial of Ferdinando’s claims was expected; still, the entire issue is a matter that should be investigated and discussed, despite the President’s response.
The immediate question this incident raises is whether Ferdinando’s comments were actually a result of him being stressed or confused during the COPE meeting. If it was in fact a result of such circumstances, he owes another, more honest, explanation to the country with regard to what he said in the letter to Attygalle. Moreover, this calls for a closer look at Ferdinando’s competence as the head of a major State institution, as an individual in such a position is not expected to cave into “pressure or emotion” in such a situation, as he had done.
In fact, it is not Ferdinando’s previous statement, but his subsequent resignation and explanation to the COPE Chairman that raises suspicions, and should therefore receive attention. In a context where Ferdinando has made two statements implying the same, the factors that caused him to retract his statement are a pressing concern. What of his first statement? Was he forced to retract his second statement made at the COPE meeting and to tender his resignation? Such matters should be investigated by the President, especially if the latter denies these allegations. Considering that this is a matter that concerns public funds and Indo-Sri Lanka relations, alongside several other factors, the President should not ignore the gravity of this situation.
The issue of public officials being forced into certain decisions and subsequently hiding information that is of public interest, is an open secret Sri Lanka has been struggling with for a long time, and there are many examples to prove this point. If public officials cannot reveal matters that concern public funds and the future of the public due to the fear of backlash from the Government or higher authorities, that is a situation that will worsen the plethora of authoritarian issues that have plagued Sri Lanka’s public sector.
Therefore, this is not a matter that should come to an end with the CEB Chairman’s resignation. The Government has to answer to India, whose government was also implicated by the allegations, but more importantly, to the Sri Lankan public, whose funds are still being utilised in this regard.Kapruka
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Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!