India denies Sri Lanka’s claim that Adani group project at Colombo Port is cleared

India Friday said Sri Lanka’s claim that New Delhi had cleared the proposal of an Adani group company to develop the West Container Terminal (WCT) at Colombo Port is “factually incorrect”.

“Our High Commission in Colombo has already conveyed to the Government of Sri Lanka that their media release in so far as the reference to the approval of the High Commission was concerned, is factually incorrect. We understand that the Government of Sri Lanka has engaged directly with investors on this project,’’ External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.

A statement on cabinet decisions taken on 1 March said the Cabinet has granted approval to develop the West Container Terminal on Build, Operate and Transfer basis for a period of 35 years as a public-private partnership with Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ Consortium) and its local representative John Keels Holding PLC (APSEZ Consortium), and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

It added that the proposal presented by APSEZ Consortium has been approved by the Indian High Commission.

Asked on Friday if India had got the formal offer for participation in the project, spokesperson Srivastava did not give a specific answer, The Telegraph reported.