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Mahinda's remark on Sampur puts India in a fix: says P.K.Balachandra

by Charles Perera

The heading is that of P.K.Balachandra, for his article in the Hindustan Times of 4 February, 2007. It shows how a pro LTTE journalist could twist a news item to create confusion and make even a small matter cause a diplomatic dissension.

Balachandra say, Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced on Sunday, that the 500MW power coal fired power project to be set up in collaboration with the National Thermal Power Project (NTPC) of India would be located in Sampur, an area in eastern Sri Lanka captured by the Sri Lankan forces from the LTTE in September last. “Rajapaksa referred to this venture in his Independence Day speech. “

Balachandra is jumping the gun saying that “The reference to Sampur is likely to put India in a fix because it is not too keen on putting up the plant there for technical and political reasons.
He also says that India has not taken a decision on the exact location of the project. But Balachandra knows, nevertheless, that it is not India to take the decision, it is both India and Sri Lanka together that has to take the decision. He says that the experts from India who were here a few days ago were not able to complete the job as they could not visit the potential sites.
Here is the crux, Balachandra says, that, “The move by the Sri Lanka Government to set up the proposed power plant to Sampur is opposed by the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) because it would lead to the area being occupied by the Sinhala community by displacing the indigenous Tamils.

Till date, the displaced Tamil population has not been allowed to come back to Sampur.

India would like the location of the plant to have a settled population and to have easy access to a harbour. Sampur has no settled population to date and has no infrastructure. The Trincomalee harbour is also too far away from Sampur. “

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