Mahinda sets snare to trap Patali

FRIDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2014

The CID is carrying out an investigation regarding 143,932 metric tons of coal imported while Mr. Patali Champika Ranawaka was the Minister of Power and Energy said the current Minister of Power and Energy Pavithra Wanniarachchi tabling a record in  Parliament yesterday (23rd).

According to this record coal imported to Sri Lanka in two ships in September, 2012 could not be unloaded due to unfavourable weather conditions. As an alternative tenders had been issued to sell the 85,891 tons of coal that could not be unloaded, supply coal to that value and to supply 5 more ships of coal to compensate for the loss the supplier had to undergo.

As there were reports that the laboratory reports issued regarding three ships of coal at the loading port in Indonesia were fake, the CID has been asked to carry out an investigation on advice by the Department of Attorney General and an investigation is being carried out states the record.

On the agreement reached between Lanka Coal Company and Ceylon Shipping Corporation on 29th April, 2012 the urgent load of coal had been supplied by Tanraian Iron and Steel Pvt Ltd. The importer had been selected by Ceylon Shipping Corporation. Ceylon Electricity Board had reported on 29th July, 2012 there had been a loss of Rs. 852,768,000 due to the use of this load of coal.

Also, a loss of Rs.654,276,116.25 has been allotted after the importer had supplied 29,896 metric tons less than originally agreed to. Accordingly, the total loss is Rs. 1,507,044,116.25.

Although documents pertaining to the deal arrived at between the Lanka Coal Company (Private) Limited and the Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd. on June 29, 2012, as well as lab tests obtained when loading and unloading the shipments have not shown any apparent inferior quality in the stocks, the CEB had reported that the Calorific Value emitted during electric power generation using this coal stock is lower than that in standard labs. Lanka Coal Company (Private) Limited is taking measures according to the advice of the Attorney General to reclaim the losses incurred.

Mr. Patali Champika Ranawaka has convened a special media meeting today (24th) to respond to Ms. Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi’s report.

Rajapaksas have shown a haste to investigate a loss that is said to have occurred in July, 2012 only after Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero declared that the JHU would do everything possible to defeat Mahinda Rajapaksa point out political analysts.