The Hon. D.V. Chanaka

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, I first thank the engineers at Norochcholai, the CEB, the PUCSL, and the National System Operator (Pvt.) Ltd. I must also thank the IMF, because now everyone admits the coal is substandard.

¶ 02 Three weeks ago, during the adjournment debate led by Hon. Ajith P. Perera, Government MPs said there was no substandard coal—consistently. Yet the previous speaker referred to “company connections.” If anyone has allegations against me, say them outside; I have already filed suits against three persons and will continue to do so.

¶ 03 Last August, Minister Kumara Jayakody gave Potentia five coal vessels with a Rs. 600 million advance; I, not you, opposed it. Go ask the Minister himself about meetings in Russia—do not ask me.

¶ 04 Hon. Deputy Chairperson: No personal allegations under Standing Order 91(u). Stick to the subject.

¶ 05 Hon. D.V. Chanaka: Understood. Before the Auditor-General’s Report came, the CEB Report, the PUCSL Report and Norochcholai engineers’ press briefing had already flagged issues. Now, Minister, this Audit Report clearly records that the coal import window was extended by 40 days. Why? Because even if coal was substandard, you designed it so the tender could not be cancelled—pushing the system to the edge. Yesterday at COPE you said you only gave time up to April, but the Ministry sat on it for two months and delayed committee appointments, causing a 40-day gap with no vessels. That is why cancellation became impracticable.

¶ 06 You also said both labs had accreditation—Indonesia and South Africa. But at COPE yesterday, LCC Chairman and the Secretary said the Indonesian lab had no accreditation; the South African lab also did not meet required ASTM scope. Yesterday both were accepted as unfit; reports were thus tainted.

¶ 07 We flagged in early January that the first vessel was substandard. The Agreement provides for appointment of an Independent Surveyor—could have been done multiple times and South Africa revisited within five days. Instead, for three months, with 12 vessels arriving, you delayed. The crucial umpire samples for the first four vessels are still at Norochcholai and have now expired. Those samples were the key proof to levy penalties. You delayed lab selection for three months. A cab procurement takes 13 days; the coal procurement took 218 days; sending umpire samples to a lab took three months—astonishing.

¶ 08 You threatened engineers not to direct-feed or release reports; the LCC Chairman resigned two days before the tender, alleging corruption and that the Board was overridden by the Minister. Agreements were signed before the Attorney-General’s clearance. The Audit Report states failure to test umpire samples undermined penalty recovery. The Government, the Minister and Cabinet aided this prolonged misconduct by altering timelines, deferring checks, and ignoring multiple reports.

¶ 09 The Minister said there were no power cuts; but the NSO Report I table now records otherwise. It also shows that due to substandard coal, Rs. 25 billion (Rs. 2,500 crore) will be passed onto the people via the bill.

¶ 10 Hon. Bimal Rathnayake: Please read the exact line that says Rs. 2,500 crore will be added to bills.

¶ 11 Hon. D.V. Chanaka: The Report estimates April–June demand at 1,381 GWh; achievable with current coal is 1,131 GWh—a shortfall of 250 GWh (250 million units). With current diesel costs, a unit is about Rs. 100+ while coal is ~Rs. 20; the delta ~Rs. 75 implies around Rs. 19–25 billion impact. It need not be verbatim—calculate from the figures given; that is the burden.

¶ 12 Thank you.