SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam says that some people are protesting against the activities of the Yugadanavi power plant only on the basis of hypocrisy.

He points out that the government is trying to bring the Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi power plant, which could not be converted into a natural gas power plant for 10 years, to a "functional condition".

"Those who are trying to sabotage this are driven by their own hypocrisy and not by their love for the country," Kariyawsam added.

Kariyawasam's remarks come in the wake of the stand taken by a number of constituent party leaders of the government against the proposed deal. Among them were senior Cabinet Ministers such as Wimal Weerawansa, Dinesh Gunawardena and Vasudewa Nanayakkara.

It is obvious that the SLPP General Secretary's remarks were targeted at the party leaders of their own alliance, a source familiar with the matter said.

Kariyawasam is a close ally of Minister Basil Rajapaksa, a key proponent of the proposed deal .