• ECA to file RTI seeking port loading-unloading reports 

The Electricity Consumers' Association (ECA) claimed there is information suggesting the third and fourth shipments of the controversial 'substandard' coal stocks were unloaded at the same time, raising doubts about a possible attempt to manipulate coal sampling and testing.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the ECA’s General Secretary, Sanjeewa Dhammika said that the usual practice is for only one coal ship to be docked and unloaded at a time. He said that if two vessels were handled simultaneously, it points to a possible irregularity. “If two ships are unloaded together, there is a strong suspicion that this was done deliberately to interfere with the sampling and testing processes,” he said.

He warned that if coal from different shipments is mixed, proper test results cannot be obtained. He said that this could be an attempt to hide the true quality of the coal supplied. “When samples are compromised, the truth cannot come out. We suspect whether this was done as part of a plan to sweep this entire issue under the carpet."

Dhammika also said the ECA plans to seek answers from the relevant institutions under the Right to Information Act (RTI), calling for port loading and unloading records to be made public without delay. “These records belong to the public and should be disclosed to the country immediately.”

Speaking further, he drew attention to operational losses at the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai, linking them to the use of substandard coal. He said that on 6 February of this year (2026), the Plant’s second generator produced 738 megawatt hours (MWh), while the third generator produced only 435 MWh. He claimed that the underperformance resulted in a loss of Rs. 358 million on that day alone, adding that the Government must take direct responsibility for the same.

“This is a clear irregularity and waste of public money. We will submit a detailed complaint to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). However, we are surprised by the fact that the National People's Power Government, having come to power to eliminate corruption, is acting as if nothing has happened in the coal procurement process."

Attempts to contact the Energy Ministry Secretary and the Acting Ceylon Electricity Board Chairperson, Prof. Udayanga Hemapala proved futile.