News

Coal scam has become litmus test for NPP: FSP

Published

4 months ago

2026/02/7

The scam involving the import of substandard coal has become the litmus test for the NPP Government, says the Frontline Socialist Party.The substandard coal scam has become the litmus test for the NPP government’s integrity and transparency, Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda said on Thursday, alleging serious irregularities and contradictions in the government’s handling of coal procurement for the Lakvijaya Power Plant.

Addressing the media in Colombo, Jayagoda strongly rejected recent statements made by Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of the JVP, during an interview with a state television channel on the ongoing coal tender controversy. He said several of Silva’s claims were factually incorrect and echoed earlier statements made by the Minister of Power and Energy that had already been abandoned after being proven false.

“There are serious inaccuracies in the views expressed by Tilvin Silva. Some of these false points were first raised by the Power Minister a week or two ago, but he stopped repeating them once we produced documentary evidence,” Jayagoda said, adding that the JVP General Secretary appeared to be “not up to date with the facts.”

Jayagoda rejected claims that coal had previously been purchased without calling for tenders from a politician’s company at inflated prices. He said that since the Lakvijaya Power Plant commenced operations in 2008, tenders had been called annually and contracts awarded to the lowest bidder.

He also dismissed assertions that no tenders were called in 2023. “The Power Minister initially made this claim, too, but stopped after we presented the tender advertisements,” Jayagoda said. He questioned contradictory statements made by government representatives, pointing out that while Silva claimed no tender was called in 2023, references to 2023 tender specifications had been publicly cited by Deputy Minister Kumara Jayakody.

“If no tender was called in 2023, how were tender specifications published that year?” Jayagoda asked, describing the claims as mutually contradictory.

According to Jayagoda, tenders were, indeed, called in 2023 and the contract was awarded to Coral Energy. When that company failed to supply coal on time, the supply responsibility was transferred to Black Sand. He further rejected claims that no tenders were called in 2024, explaining that during the bidding process a company named Potentia had offered a lower price than the initial lowest bidder.

“Based on approvals from the Technical Evaluation Committee, the Procurement Committee, the Cabinet, and finally the Attorney General, coal was purchased from the lowest bidder,” he said, adding that any doubts regarding the legality of the process could be investigated through proper legal channels.

However, Jayagoda stressed that the controversy was not merely about whether tenders were called, but about how the process was manipulated. He listed several concerns raised by the FSP from the outset, including a four-month delay in calling for tenders, changes to tender specifications, and the tender period being reduced by half.

“Urgency was cited as the justification for these changes, yet there was a six-week delay in awarding the tender. That clearly shows there was no real urgency,” he said.

Jayagoda also alleged that laboratory reports were concealed when substandard coal shipments were imported, in order to protect the supplying company. He said that despite a contractual clause requiring the tender to be cancelled if two shipments failed quality standards, the government continued with the order. He further accused the authorities of violating the agreement by approving emergency purchases in a way that benefited the supplier.

“The entire process is suspicious,” Jayagoda said. “A Minister will not resign unless they admit to fraud. But it is the responsibility of the President and the government to conduct an independent investigation, determine whether fraud has occurred, and remove the Minister if wrongdoing is established.”

He concluded by reiterating that the coal tender controversy would serve as a decisive test of the government’s commitment to accountability. “This is the litmus test for the integrity and transparency of the government,” Jayagoda said.

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Elders’ home devastated by fire was a ‘house of horror’: Witnesses

Published

4 hours ago

2026/06/5

Thilina Walpola

Death toll rises to 12: Director remanded

Some residents were allegedly chained

Police have come under public pressure to investigate allegations of inhumane treatmenf the residents at an elders’ home in Batagoda, which was also reportedly used as a care centre for persons with special needs, following a devastating fire that has so far claimed 12 lives.

Eyewitnesses who were among the first responders told the media that several residents had been chained inside rooms at the Senehase Kedella Elders’ Home when the fire broke out on Wednesday. They claimed that rescue efforts were hindered as iron chains could not be removed, and that some residents died while being restrained.

Authorities have not yet verified these claims, and Police said investigations are continuing.

Police spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler, contacted for comment, said there were rumours to that effect, but the Police were not in a position to verify the claims until a report from the Government Analyst was received. He said eight survivors with burn injuries were being treated in hospital.

Meanwhile, the Director of the facility had been arrested and was due to be produced before the Horana Magistrate’s Court, Police said adding that he was remanded till June 11.

The death toll from the fire has risen to 12 as of Thursday morning following the recovery of additional charred remains during ongoing forensic examinations at the site. Six others sustained serious injuries and are being treated at the Horana Base Hospital.

Police said 72 residents were inside the facility at the time of the blaze. Of them, 10 died inside the building, seven were injured and hospitalised, while 51 were rescued and relocated.

Survivors were initially housed at Batagoda Junior School before being transferred with Army assistance to another branch of the same care network in Galpatha.

A magisterial inquiry was conducted on Thursday morning. Horana Magistrate Lakmini Vidanagamage visited the scene. The burnt remains were examined and removed under judicial supervision.

Separately, allegations have emerged that residents were required to pay an admission fee of Rs. 75,000, along with a monthly charge of Rs. 35,000 to the centre. Police have not commented on these claims.

The director was taken to the scene as part of ongoing investigations, while forensic experts continue examinations to determine the cause of the fire, which remains undetermined.Anguruwatota Police are conducting investigations.

By Norman Palihawadane and Nishan S Priyantha

News

CERT : AI-generated videos depicting Prez, PM lure public into financial scams

Published

4 hours ago

2026/06/5

Thilina Walpola

Sri Lanka CERT has issued a public warning over the circulation of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated videos falsely depicting President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and several other prominent personalities to promote fraudulent investment schemes online.

According to complaints received by the national cyber security agency, the videos have been created using deepfake technology and are being used as part of attempts to defraud members of the public through financial scams.

The images of famous sports personalities and other public figures have also been misused in the deceptive content.

The agency has warned that similar AI-generated material has been used to spread false information relating to investment opportunities, employment offers, as well as matters concerning the country’s economy and tax policies.

According to Sri Lanka CERT, the videos are being widely shared across online platforms and frequently contain links urging viewers to make investments in return for purported profits.The agency has cautioned that these links may redirect users to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal information, financial data and money from unsuspecting victims.

Sri Lanka CERT has urged the public to exercise extreme caution when encountering such content online and advised against clicking on suspicious links or sharing personal information through unverified websites.

“The public should remain vigilant and avoid becoming victims of false information and online fraud schemes,” the agency said.

Sri Lanka CERT has also encouraged internet users to verify information through official sources before acting on any investment, employment or financial offers circulated via social media or other online platforms.

News

New tax law comes into force

Published

4 hours ago

2026/06/5

Thilina Walpola

Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne endorsing the certificate on a Bill (File)

Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne on Wednesday endorsed the certificate on the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill, bringing the legislation into force as the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act, No. 11 of 2026, Parliament sources said.

The Bill, which amends the Inland Revenue Act, No. 24 of 2017, was passed by Parliament on May 19.

The new law introduces a series of reforms aimed at modernising tax administration procedures, improving compliance and enforcement mechanisms, enhancing the accuracy of tax calculations and deductions, and strengthening transparency within the tax system.

The amendments also support broader economic policy objectives and include measures designed to reinforce anti-money laundering safeguards.Among the key provisions of the Act is the mandatory use of Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) certificates for specified high-value financial transactions.

The legislation also introduces revisions to the calculation of taxable income, clarifies tax exemptions applicable to certain projects and business entities, and expands the scope for information disclosure to relevant authorities.

The amendments are expected to improve the efficiency of tax administration while facilitating greater accountability and regulatory oversight.With the Speaker’s endorsement of the certificate, the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill has now become law as the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act, No. 11 of 2026.