Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterpart in Sri Lanka on the effect of the Chunnakam power plant complex on the water supply in northern Sri Lanka.

We maintain regular contact with the Government of Sri Lanka on a range of environmental issues, including the challenges around water management and quality faced by communities in Northern Sri Lanka. A number of public bodies in Sri Lanka have conducted tests and compensation has been offered to those affected by water pollution caused by the Chunnakam Power plant.

The then Minister responsible for Sri Lanka, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, discussed this issue with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK in December 2020. He also raised opportunities for joint cooperation on environmental protection during his visit to Sri Lanka in January.