by Dilanthi Jayamanne
PA media spokesman Dr. Sarath Amunugama claimed that not a single cent had been utilised from funds allotted to the Upper Kotmale scheme by Japan due to political indecision. Commenting on the intended trip to Japan by the Minister of Enterprise Development, Prof. G. L. Peiris in June to request funds, he claimed that the biggest funding received since the Mahaweli scheme was for the Upper Kotmale scheme.

"When the government has not spent a cent of the funds received, how they are going to Japan to ask for more funds is the biggest question," Amunugama said.

Mentioning the intended coal powered plant he said that it had been a sore issue even during their own regime. "The people could not face long hours of darkness so they punished us at the elections," he said pointing out that it had been one of the trump cards for the present government.

"However, they too has not been able to get the coal-powered plant off the ground for the past one year," Dr. Amunugama said claiming that the Japanese government had withdrawn the money allocated for the plant.

He said that last month there had been an unsolicited offer from a company called Barclay Mowlam in New Zealand that offered to set up a coal powered plant with its own funds. "The government said no ‘thank you,’ and called for funds globally again," he said.

Amunugama warned that the power situation was going from bad to worse.

The PA media spokesman claimed that the Kukule ganga scheme had also come to a dead halt. "The Japanese government offered assistance for this scheme as well.