One-time Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka accused the National People’s Power (NPP) Government of having dealt a devastating blow to the country’s energy security and the people’s economy.
Speaking to the media in Colombo yesterday (11) at a briefing organised by the joint Opposition, Ranawaka said the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has presented a very systematic investigative report on the environmental and financial damage that has occurred in the recent coal procurement.
“According to the report, the entire coal procurement process itself is corrupt”. He said that in March of last year (2025), the Lanka Coal Company had submitted its procurement plan for 2026 to the Government.
“However, the Government rejected it, as a result of which the relevant tender was delayed. At the same time, five additional shipments were awarded to a company which had earlier been described in unfavourable terms”.
Ranawaka noted that the particular tender was finally called in August 2025. “The conditions in the tender were relaxed and the time period was reduced”. The manner in which these changes were made has openly raised suspicions that the process was adjusted in a way that suited certain parties, he said.
“The first shipment itself failed and stocks arrived only in December 2025. According to the open report of the PUCSL, the Government had disgracefully undermined the energy security of the country”.
Ranawaka lamented that under the current situation, two units of the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai are scheduled to be shut down for 25 days each in the coming period. “The first unit will be closed for 25 days in June and the second unit will be closed for 25 days in July. In addition, the Wekanda Power Plant is also scheduled to be shut down for 10 days.
Likewise, the Kelanitissa Combined Cycle Power Plant is also scheduled to be closed during May, June and July”. He said that even if all 25 ships reach the island — only 11 have arrived so far — the Coal Power Plant will shut down by 2 October under these circumstances.
“At present, even the 12th and 13th shipments have not arrived. We cannot be confident that the 20th shipment will arrive before 20 April. Therefore, the Lakvijaya Power Plant is scheduled to shut down on 27 August”.
He alleged that because low-quality coal was brought in, the relevant Company earned an additional profit of about United States Dollars ($) 20 to 30 per metric tonne. “Accordingly, from just one shipment out of the first 10 shipments, they would gain a benefit of between $ 1.2 and 1.5 million. Therefore, from the first 10 shipments alone, they have earned an additional profit of between $ 12 and 15 million,” Ranawaka alleged.
PHOTO Ishan Sanjeewa