Bimal Rathnayake has acknowledged that substandard coal was imported to Sri Lanka, stating that the company responsible has been fined up to US$ 2 million.
Speaking at a public event, he said laboratory tests confirmed the poor quality of the coal, prompting authorities to impose penalties on the supplier.
The Minister noted that coal procurement involves a complex tender process that must be carefully managed to maintain adequate stocks, adding that imposing fines is currently the only viable action.
He stressed that while the mistake is not being justified, replacing the supplier immediately is not feasible as procurement procedures take several months. Rathnayake warned that imposing excessive penalties could risk the company withdrawing or facing bankruptcy, which would in turn disrupt the country’s coal supply.
