News

COPE questions Ceylon Coal Company officials on Rs. 1.1 billion loss

Published

5 years ago

2020/10/8

A probe by the COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises) yesterday found that a loss to the tune of Rs. 1.1 billion had occurred due to the non-specification of the quantity of coal required when calling for tenders for the purchase of the raw material by the Ceylon Coal Company (Pvt) Limited.

The Ceylon Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd. had purchased coal on a short-term basis without following the proper procurement process, the COPE was informed at its meeting at the Parliamentary Complex with its Chairman Prof Charitha Herath presiding.

COPE members Ministers Mahinda Amaraweera, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, State Ministers Nalaka Godahewa, Sarath Weerasekera, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, MPs Patali Champika Ranawaka, Eran Wickramaratne, Jagath Pushpakumara, Premnath C. Dolawatta, S.M. Marikkar and Rauff Hakeem were present at the meeting.

A group of senior officials of the Ceylon Coal Company Ltd had been summoned to respond to the queries of the COPE probe. They told the committee that they had expected to take the advantage of the fluctuations in market prices by purchasing coal on a short-term basis.

COPE Chairman Herath pointed out the need to handle tenders with the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers in accordance with the prescribed procurement process.

The Norochcholai Lakvijaya Power Plant was added to the national grid to meet a 900 MW electricity requirement, but there was a shortfall of 90 MW, the COPE was told.

It was also revealed at the meeting that only 810 MW was actually being generated and that 90 MW shortfall was unavoidable.

Secretary of the Cabinet Procurement Committee had been absent from the Procurement Committee meetings on eight occasions and an Additional Secretary has been appointed for the purpose. Therefore, the COPE Committee noted that there was a problem with the legitimacy of decisions taken. However, officials said that it was possible to appoint an Additional Secretary for the purpose. The Chairman recommended submitting an immediate report to the COPE to ascertain whether this was correct.

The committee asked why three barges purchased by the Ceylon Electricity Board at a cost of Rs. 1100 million had been handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy. The COPE directed the Secretary to the Ministry to submit an immediate report on the procedure followed in handing over the barges and the reasons for their inability to maintain them.

The newspaper advertisements had said that five years’ experience in coal supply was required for the supplier, but applications had been issued to companies with only three years’ experience. The committee was of the view that it had put the coal company at a disadvantage. It also said no formal procedure had been followed on the last day of bidding. The Committee decided that those matters should be duly investigated.

The COPE asked whether the involvement of the Sri Lanka Shipping Corporation in the purchase of coal would result in a loss than the purchase of coal through another institution under the normal tender system. It recommended submitting a report in that regard.

The COPE noted the need for regular meetings with the Ceylon Electricity Board, the Ceylon Shipping Corporation, the Ceylon Coal Company and the relevant ministry and its members to draw their attention to the cost of operating thermal power plants.

The COPE Chairman instructed officials to submit all reports on these matters within one month.

All News Advertisement

Latest News

Royal Navy of Oman Vessel “SADH” arrives at Port of Colombo

Published

10 hours ago

2026/02/10

Priyan

The Royal Navy of Oman Vessel “SADH” arrived at the Port of Colombo on a logistics replenishment visit on Tuesday (10 Feb 26). The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in
compliance with naval traditions.

The 75m – long ship is commanded by Lieutenant Commander Shaheen Saud Abdul Rahman AI Balushi.

The port call will facilitate professional interaction and goodwill exchanges between the two navies.

During the stay in Colombo, crew members of the ship are expected to visit some tourist attractions in the city of Colombo.

News

NPP: Speaker won’t step down, CIABOC can investigate him

Published

20 hours ago

2026/02/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

Nihal

* New Auditor General should not have been sworn in before Speaker – Opp.

* Suspended House Dy. Sec. Gen. Chaminda Kularatne takes his case to CA today

General Secretary of the National People’s Power (NPP) Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe yesterday said that there was no need for Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne to step down in view of the complaint lodged against him with the CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption).

NPP General Secretary said so in response to The Island query whether the parliamentary group of the ruling party discussed the growing Opposition calls for the Speaker, who is also the Chairman of the Constitutional Council, to step down to facilitate the investigation.

The NPP parliamentary group consists of 159 MPs, including 18 National List (NL) members.

NL member Dr. Abeysinghe asked whether any other person, who had been investigated by the CIABOC, stepped down from his or her position to facilitate the inquiry.

The top official emphasised that the CIABOC could go ahead with its investigation without any hindrance.

Chamindra and Dr. Jagath

Opposition sources said that there hadn’t been a similar situation before and the CIABOC investigation into Speaker Dr. Wickramaratne is unprecedented as he heads the 10-member CC responsible and directly involved in all key appointments, including that of members to the CIABOC.

Sources pointed out that the newly appointed Auditor General, Ms. Samudrika Jayaratne, took the oath of secrecy before the Speaker on 5 February in Parliament after suspended Deputy General Secretary of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne complained to CIABOC.

In accordance with Section 9 of the National Audit Act, No. 19 of 2018, Jayaratne took the oath of secrecy in her capacity as the Auditor General of the National Audit Office and Chairperson of the Audit Service Commission.

Sources said that Kularatne would move the Court of Appeal today (10) against his removal at the behest of the Staff Advisory Committee, headed by the Speaker.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

News

Trinco Buddha statue case: All suspects, including 4 monks re-remanded till 11 Feb.

Published

20 hours ago

2026/02/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

One of the monks being brought to the Magistrate’s Court

The Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court yesterday (09) further remanded 10 persons, including four Buddhist monks, arrested on 19 January, 2026, for allegedly placing a Buddha statue in the coastal reservation, on 16 January.

The Buddhist monks, including Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera, and six other individuals, were further remanded until 11 February.

They have been accused of violating the Coast Conservation Act by placing a Buddha statue on a block of land belonging to the Trincomalee Bodhiraja Temple.

Of the four monks, Ven Balangoda Kassapa Thera and Ven Trincomalee Kalyanawansa Tissa Thera moved the Court of Appeal against the Magistrate’s Court decision. The case was heard on 22 January before a Bench comprising the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya, and Justice K. Priyantha Fernando.

Manohara de Silva, PC, and President’s Counsel Uditha Igalahewa, PC, appearing for the petitioners, urged the Court to take up the matter urgently, describing it as a case of exceptional importance.

However, the Court of Appeal on 3 February dismissed the petitions against the remanding of Ven Balangoda Kassapa Thera and Ven Trincomalee Kalyanawansa Tissa Thera.

The order was issued by the Court of Appeal bench consisting of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abesuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando.