Is Former Power Minister Champika Ranawaka Responsible For Coal Tender Fraud? – JO Demands Probe
Speaking at the Joint Opposition media briefing yesterday, MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara charged that the alleged involvement of the previous Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka in calling for tenders from coal suppliers had led to accept a higher bid.
As we learnt, there were few other bidders who could supply coal for a lower price than the selected bidder. This is a plan by the Government to misuse public funds,” he alleged.
However, Nanayakkara added that due to the change of ministerial portfolios, the blame had been shifted to the present Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya.
But, Minister Siyambalapitiya told the media last week, that he would make a full statement in Parliament about the allegations, over the tender bidding process for coal suppliers to the Lakvijaya power plant, since he had nothing to hide.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court issued an order suggesting that the Government call for fresh tenders to supply coal for the Lakvijaya power plant and dismissed the petition filed by Singapore-based Noble Resources International Ltd. The court said that Singapore-based Noble Resources International Ltd was a foreign company and therefore could not be shielded under Sri Lankan law.
The Joint Opposition urged the Government to appoint a special select committee to investigate the controversy-ridden coal tender for the Lakvijaya power plant.