Committee requests quality reports on imported coal consignments

The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development requested quality reports on coal consignments in three imported vessels after examining matters relating to coal imported to Sri Lanka for electricity generation.

The review took place when the committee met in Parliament recently under the chairmanship of S. M. Marikkar, Member of Parliament. Officials from the Ministry of Power and Energy and the Lanka Coal Company (Private) Limited were summoned to attend the meeting.

The committee sought clarifications from officials on procedures followed in the coal importation process. Particular attention was given to the procedures used in the most recent coal imports, and officials were questioned in detail.

The chairman inquired whether any issues had arisen concerning the quality of the coal most recently imported into the country. Officials informed the committee that samples from three coal vessels that arrived in Sri Lanka had been sent to India for quality testing, and that accurate information could be provided once the relevant reports were received.

The matter was discussed at length. The chairman stated that the former chairman of Lanka Coal (Private) Limited, who was involved in the processes related to the importation of these coal consignments, would be summoned before the committee at its next meeting.

The chairman instructed officials to submit to the committee, on the same day of the next meeting, the quality reports of the coal in the three vessels that arrived in Sri Lanka, as well as the laboratory reports conducted in Sri Lanka on the quality of coal contained in the most recently arrived vessel.

Members of the committee, Members of Parliament Ajith P. Perera and Chathura Galappaththi, were present at the meeting.