A clear division has emerged within the National People’s Power (NPP) over the handling and ownership of the high-profile Sinopec investment, as comments by Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody appear to directly contradict claims made earlier by fellow NPP MP Lakmali Hemachandra.
During a televised discussion on Derana TV, Minister Jayakody addressed media concerns regarding the Chinese energy giant’s entry into Sri Lanka’s fuel sector.
He clarified that the Sinopec agreement was the outcome of a formal procurement process initiated in 2022, well before the current government took office.
He noted that seven companies had initially submitted proposals, with Sinopec ultimately selected after a competitive process.
The Energy Minister’s comments stand in stark contrast to a statement made two weeks earlier by MP Lakmali Hemachandra, who described the deal as the largest foreign direct investment (FDI) in Sri Lanka’s history and claimed that the agreement was signed under the NPP’s administration.
She also asserted that no one outside the NPP had the authority to sign the agreement.
Minister Jayakody, however, dismissed that assertion, stating unequivocally that the project is not based on a mere memorandum of understanding (MoU), but was advanced through a structured evaluation, with the current government continuing what he called a “correctly initiated” process.
“It is our responsibility to carry forward any proper procedure that serves the national interest,” he said.
The public disagreement highlights growing fissures within the NPP on how the Sinopec deal is being represented and managed.
It also raises questions over political messaging on major economic initiatives at a time when the government faces scrutiny over foreign investments, regulatory conditions, and national interests.
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