The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC

¶ 01 [4.30 p.m.]

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity. Before I begin, I wish the Minister of Energy, Hon. Kumara Jayakody, were still here, as he did not answer Hon. Ajith P. Perera’s direct question. Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra also made several assertions — I must state they are wrong.

¶ 03 I have here — as, I believe, all Members do — the report presented by the highly capable Auditor General appointed by you, Ms. L. S. I. Jayaratne. When this is mentioned, some spring up; no matter — watch on TV. The recommendations are in paragraph 7, on page 33. Reading them makes matters clear. On the basis of Hon. Ajith P. Perera’s question, I say this: regarding the import of substandard coal, the report sets out, very clearly, the entirely flawed process.

¶ 04 Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra spoke of loading and unloading ports. Please read section 5.5.5.2 (iii). In brief: the inspection authority empowered by the purchasing company operates under strict conditions, and the report at the loading port is to be accepted. In plain terms, suppliers at the loading port can obtain favourable reports and load the vessel. Such issues are frequently discussed in courts. Ultimately, the standard is determined by the buyer, who has the full right to reject the loading port report and rely on their own.

¶ 05 I will quote the last sentence under “Recommendation” 7.8:

¶ 06 “Since the total Metric Tons of coal supplied and the gross calorific value of the coal supplied to this power plant during the last 36 months, which are considered in the examination of the experience of the suppliers, are not sufficient to meet the standards required for this power plant,...”

¶ 07 Thus, for 36 months substandard coal has been supplied — this is said not by me, but by your report. Your Government has been in office for one and a half years. For 18 months prior, following the same flawed procedure, your Government and your President’s Cabinet, through this Minister, obtained and purchased this coal. I challenge you: send this Special Audit Report of 02 April 2026 on Lanka Coal Company’s procurement for Lakvijaya to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption — chaired by your own appointee Mr. Ranga Dissanayake — and to the CID and the Attorney General. Then they can determine who is responsible for the loss caused to this Government and country by importing substandard coal. Standing Orders were amended yesterday to allow COPE reports to be referred to CIABOC or CID. Send this too, and ask for an investigation and a decision. Perhaps then Hon. Kumara Jayakody will resign tomorrow or the day after.