Feb 16, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has expressed its objection to the alleged plan to hand over the Norochcholai coal power plant to the Chinese while government officials have denied such a move.

JVP parliamentary group leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the handing over of the coal plant to the Chinese would jeopardize the country's defence system.

Explaining that handing over the plant would result in the government losing control of the country's power sector, Dissanayake emphasized that the government should have full control of the country's power sector since it plays a key role in the defence system.

According to Dissanayake, the government would have to purchase power from China if it loses the monopoly in the power sector by handing over Norochcholai plant to the Chinese.