Sri Lanka has no agreement with Pakistan or any country for a nuclear power station as claimed by various Indian media reports, Minister Champika Ranawaka said today.
Certain Indian media and several local media had reported that concurrent to the Sampur power station being built with Indian aid, Sri Lanka is to build a nuclear power station with Pakistani assistance.
“These reports are completely false,” the Power and Energy Minister said emphasizing that the Sri Lankan government has neither discussed the matter with any party nor is it prepared to do so.
Pakistan is all set to begin consultations with Sri Lanka to help set up a nuclear power plant in Trincomallee’s Sampur, Indian news websites reported on Tuesday (24).
It claimed that the development is being viewed with concern in New Delhi since the Indian embassy in Colombo reported the development to South Block.
“The strategy is part of Pakistan’s grand design of increasing influence in the island nation by Pakistan, actively backed by China,” the report further alleged.
Responding to this Minister Ranawaka stated that neither he nor the Sri Lankan government has been informed of the report submitted by the Indian High Commission or the information provided to the Indian government.
However, the only energy related development project currently underway in Sampur is the coal power project being carried out jointly by India’s National Thermal Power Corporation and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), he pointed out.
It is regrettable that Indian media is reporting such false information and creating a false image in the mind of the public of India as well as Sri Lanka, Patali Champika Ranawaka said during a press briefing, also attended by the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Authority (AEA), Dr. Ranjith Wijewardena.
