The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has decided to conduct a detailed bird conflict prevention study before calling for new tenders for the Mannar and Poonarin renewable energy projects, which were previously awarded to India’s Adani Group.
The Adani Group has withdrawn from the projects following the new government’s decision to review them.
An official of the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) told the media that the CEA had emphasized the importance of carrying out a new study to assess potential conflicts between wind turbines and bird migration patterns.
“There is a regulatory requirement to clearly demonstrate how birds behave in and around wind farms to ensure that the risk to species is kept to a minimum,” the official explained.
When questioned about compensation for Adani’s withdrawal, the official said a preliminary agreement had been reached regarding a repayment amount but noted that details could not be disclosed as the matter was currently before the Attorney General’s Department.
The two projects, initially awarded to Adani Green Energy Ltd, were designed to generate a total of 484 megawatts of wind power in Mannar and Poonarin, representing an investment of about US$442 million.
The projects were expected to supply electricity to the national grid under a 20-year power purchase agreement, but disagreements over tariff rates, environmental concerns, and procedural transparency have led to delays and controversy.
