Government criticised over substandard coal

Colombo District Member of Parliament Mujibur Rahman stated that the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Power Plant is currently forced to consume 800,000 litres of diesel daily to compensate for reduced generation caused by substandard coal.

Speaking at a press conference today (24) at the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) headquarters, he warned that this reliance on diesel could trigger a severe fuel crisis.

Rahman criticised the administration for failing to manage the local repercussions of the Middle East conflict, noting that while the government previously claimed the war would have minimal impact, it now appears to be in a state of panic.

He argued that the government failed to recognise early warning signs of the regional crisis as far back as January and is now struggling to maintain the national energy supply.

The MP further alleged that the current power shortage is not solely a result of the war but is primarily due to the procurement of low-quality coal, which has led to significant financial losses.

He called on the Bribery Commission to immediately investigate the Energy Minister regarding the import of these non-standard stocks.

Rahman also noted that the government's failure to maintain transparency regarding the arrival of foreign vessels and its diplomatic handling of Iran could further jeopardise Sri Lanka's economic interests, including tea exports and debt management.