Power Minister appoints committee to probe coal purchases

July 13, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Power Minister on Wednesday appointed a three-member committee comprised of industry experts to look into the alleged losses incurred in Norochcholai coal procurement process during 2015 to 2016. Chancellor of Moratuwa University Prof. K Y WA Perera will chair the committee while the Chairman of CMA Prof.

Lakshman R Watawala and Prof. B Ekanayake from Peradeniya University will serve as other committee members.

The committee will report back to the minister on 29 July 2016. The procurement process to buy coal for 2015 and 2016 commenced in 2014 and ended after 7 months. A petition lodged with the Supreme Court claimed that the said procurement process has incurred a loss of approximately 1.2 billion rupees to the country. Due to technical reasons the application was dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Civil society activists however raised concerns over the conduct of standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee and the Technical Evaluation Committee.