The procurement of substandard coal for the Lakvijaya Power Plant has led to a sharp rise in coal consumption for electricity generation and caused an estimated loss of Rs. 8,497 million to the government, according to a report by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL).

National Secretary of the Electricity Consumers’ Association, Sanjeewa Dhammika, said the PUCSL report had revealed that the use of low-quality coal had severely affected both the operational efficiency of the power plant’s generation units and its financial performance.

According to the report, the production of one unit of electricity using coal supplied by the previous supplier required only about 0.046 kilogrammes of coal, whereas the same unit produced using coal from the new supplier required 0.093 kilogrammes.

“This means coal consumption per electricity unit has increased by 102 per cent, clearly indicating a significant deterioration in the quality of the coal supplied,” Dhammika said.

He added that the PUCSL report had estimated the financial loss incurred by the government from the first to the ninth coal shipment at Rs. 8,497 million, mainly due to the increased coal consumption resulting from the inferior quality of the fuel.

The report has also pointed to possible violations of the coal supply agreement. According to Clause 8 of the agreement, coal stocks should not be used until their quality has been verified through the required testing procedures.

However, the report reveals that the coal shipments in question had been used for electricity generation before the completion of the mandatory quality tests.

Dhammika stressed that under such circumstances there was no justifiable basis to increase electricity tariffs, warning that the public should not be burdened with the cost of losses arising from procurement irregularities.

“Do not attempt to increase electricity tariffs. The public cannot afford it. These losses should be recovered personally from those responsible, including the Minister, the Secretary to the Ministry, and the officials who served on the procurement committee,” he said. He also called on the Attorney General’s Department to take immediate legal action over what he described as knowingly causing financial losses to the state.

Dhammika urged the Attorney General to file indictments and ensure that those responsible for the alleged irregularities are held accountable under the law.

By Anuradha Hiripitiyage ✍️

The election to appoint the new Basnayake Nilame of the historic Kandy Sri Pattini Devalaya, one of the four main Devalayas associated with the Sri Dalada Maligawa, will be held today (06) at 10.00 AM at the Kandy District Secretariat.

Current Acting Basnayake Nilames of the temple, Hemantha Bandara Herath, and the Basnayake Nilame of the Pattini Devalaya affiliated to the Matale Wilgamuwa Sonuththara Rajamaha Viharaya Dhammika Anuruddha Bandara Ekanayake are contesting for the position. These two candidates are close relatives.

Reports also indicate that the Basnayake Nilame of the Lankatilaka Sri Vishnu Devalaya Priyantha Amunugama may also contest. The appointment will be finalised after the names of the candidates are proposed and seconded. The standard procedure for this post requires that if there is more than one candidate, a vote be taken under the supervision of the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, and the individual securing the majority of votes will be elected as the Basnayake Nilame.

Seven Divisional Secretaries of the Kandy District (excluding female Divisional Secretaries) and approximately fifteen lay custodians and Basnayake Nilames of ancient temples and Devalayas are reportedly eligible to cast their votes in today’s proceedings.

Unlike the election for the Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, where the chief incumbents (chief monks) of ancient temples are entitled to vote, they do not hold voting rights in this particular election.

By S.K. Samaranayake ✍️

A retired officer of the Sri Lanka Air Force has filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka challenging the 90-day detention order imposed on former State Intelligence Service chief Suresh Sallay under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Sri Lanka).

The petition names the Minister of Defence, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, the IGP and the CID as respondents.

The petitioner argued that the Prevention of Terrorism Act is applicable only in cases involving actions aimed at undermining the country’s unity and territorial integrity or activities supporting the unlawful overthrow of a constitutionally elected government.

He pointed out that no such charges had been formally brought against Sallay.

The petition further states that although the Act was used in relation to activities of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and during the 2022 protests, there was no evidence linking the Easter attacks to attempts to overthrow the government.

It has also been noted that the CID has not so far preferred any charges or evidence against the retired intelligence chief under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Filed as a Public Interest Litigation, the petition seeks a declaration that the detention order amounts to a violation of fundamental rights.

The petitioner also requested the court to direct the CID to either frame charges against Sallay under the Act or, in the absence of sufficient evidence, issue appropriate relief in his favour.