Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MP D.V. Chanaka has escalated allegations of corruption in the government’s coal procurement process, publicly calling on Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody to face him in a televised debate.
In a statement delivered in Parliament, MP Chanaka accused the government of widespread corruption and fraud since the start of its term. He revealed what he described as a large-scale coal scam, claiming that substandard coal imported under the tender has caused significant financial losses to the country. “I challenge Minister Jayakody to a debate on any channel, and I will prove that this transaction is completely corrupt,” he said.
The government had reportedly postponed the annual coal tender, usually held in April, until September. Independent tests at the Lakvijaya Power Plant revealed that the calorific value of the first two coal shipments imported under this tender ranged between 5,600 and 5,800, falling short of the 5,900 minimum specified in tender guidelines.
These revelations have sparked renewed scrutiny of the government’s energy procurement practices, raising questions about transparency and accountability in the handling of critical coal imports.
