MP Mujibur Rahman alleged in Parliament today (07) that the country will lose more than Rs. 20 billion over 20 years due to seven renewable energy projects awarded by the government without calling for tenders.
He claimed that three of these projects were awarded without tender to two internationally renowned Sri Lankan cricketers who had publicly supported and praised the President, while another project was given to a company linked to an institution where the Minister of Power and Energy had previously worked.
MP Rahman revealed that in 2021, during the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration, 533 investment proposals were submitted in response to a call for renewable energy projects. After evaluation, only 47 institutions were shortlisted. However, he pointed out that none of the companies linked to the Minister or the cricketers were among those shortlisted.
He further stated that on November 25, 2025, the Secretary to the Ministry of Energy issued a letter (Ref: PE/DEV/02/04) to the Renewable Energy Authority, instructing it to issue licences to seven institutions to generate renewable energy. According to the letter, these seven institutions were selected from the previously shortlisted 47 and were approved to generate 550 megawatts of power.
No tenders were called for these projects, despite a Cabinet decision
MP Rahman stressed that no tenders were called for these projects, despite a Cabinet decision by the current government that no project should be implemented without a tender process.
He highlighted pricing irregularities, stating that the government is purchasing solar power at Rs. 18 per unit, while a previous 10-megawatt solar project was approved at Rs. 17 per unit. He said prices should decrease further for larger projects, but this has not happened.
In the case of wind power, MP Rahman noted that the previous government purchased electricity at Rs. 11.80 per unit, whereas the new projects approved in November are being purchased at Rs. 20 per unit. He questioned who would benefit from this difference, stating that the losses would exceed Rs. 20 billion over 20 years.
A Contract to Minister Related Company
MP Rahman also raised serious concerns about one of the approved companies, Blueson, stating that the company did not exist at the time the shortlist was prepared and had not submitted a proposal. He alleged that the company was later acquired by NEM, an institution where the current Minister of Power and Energy had previously worked.
“This means a company that was not among the shortlisted 47 has been awarded a project,” he said.
Questioning the government’s claims of transparency, MP Rahman said that while the President has repeatedly spoken about clean governance and transparency, these actions reflect practices similar to those of previous governments.
