The Free Lawyers Organisation claimed the absence of a strategic plan for coal procurement has resulted in another substandard coal shipment arriving in Sri Lanka, and the country having to incur heavy demurrage charges on shipments that have yet to be unloaded.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (27), President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne, President of the organisation, alleged that three coal shipments are currently anchored near the Colombo Port without being unloaded. “Three coal shipments are anchored near the Colombo Port without being unloaded at the moment. The demurrage per shipment per day is around US$ 20,000. These costs have to be paid simply because the Government failed to plan properly and unload them before sea conditions turned rough.”

He further claimed that the latest shipment had raised serious concerns regarding quality standards. “A coal shipment is anchored near the Colombo Port, and it still hasn’t been unloaded as reports say it is substandard,” he said.

Gunaratne charged that the ash content of the coal stood at 16.8 per cent, exceeding the 16 per cent limit specified in the tender issued by the Ceylon Coal Company, potentially placing the shipment outside the required quality standards. "This shipment may not qualify for purchase even under penalty conditions due to the deviation from specifications. Lower-quality coal could reduce electricity generation capacity at the Norochcholai Power Plant and increase reliance on diesel power generation."

Commenting on the allegations to the media on 26 May, Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka said that although the coal stock was of lower quality than required, it could still be used for electricity generation at the Norochcholai plant. He added that legal action had already been initiated regarding issues linked to the tender process and quality compliance.