‘Substandard coal’ unloaded at Norochcholai, alleges Free Lawyers

The Free Lawyers claims that unloading operations of the vessel “MV JOSCO YONGZHOU,” carrying allegedly substandard coal meant for the Norochcholai Power Plant, began forcibly this morning (29), despite the shipment being of a quality that should have been fully rejected.

The organization alleges that the entire process amounts to an act punishable under the Anti-Corruption Act.

The vessel, carrying 59,766 metric tonnes of coal supplied by Taranjot Resource (Pvt) Ltd, reportedly arrived at the Puttalam anchorage at around 11:30 a.m. yesterday (28).

According to a statement issued by the organization, the vessel was inspected by authorities at around 3:30 p.m., and unloading approval was granted within just 30 minutes, allegedly without a proper review. Unloading operations reportedly commenced at 10:30 a.m. today by four separate teams.

The organization further claims that a Load Port Report sent on April 30 by Bureau Veritas Solutions South Africa (Pvt) Ltd to the Lanka Coal Company had already confirmed the coal to be of poor quality.

They stated that under Section 5.2 of the Lanka Coal Company tender specifications, the maximum ash content (LCC Reject Value) should not exceed 16 units, whereas the coal currently being unloaded allegedly records an ash content of 16.8 units.

As a result, the organization argues that the Sri Lankan government has no legal basis to purchase the shipment, even with penalties imposed.

The Free Lawyers organization also described this as the first and only coal shipment in Sri Lankan history that should have been completely rejected based on the load port report alone.

They further alleged that despite requests for a formal investigation by the Lanka Coal Company, the Audit Office, and technical committees before unloading, authorities failed to act. The organization argues that spending public funds on allegedly substandard coal could constitute a serious offence under the 2023 Anti-Corruption Act No. 9, as well as a violation of state financial and administrative regulations.