The JVP’s erstwhile comrades in the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) have accused the government of manipulating procurement procedures to award a controversial coal import tender to a favoured company, raising fresh concerns about corruption in Sri Lanka’s energy sector.
Addressing a seminar, titled “Uttaraya Api”, in Bendiwewa, Polonnaruwa, on Sunday, FSP Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda alleged that the coal tender, opened on 15 September for power generation purposes, had been improperly awarded to Trident Chemphar, under questionable circumstances.
Jayagoda claimed procurement guidelines had been altered to suit the company. “According to the 2021 Sri Lanka Coal Registration Document, eligible companies were required to hold a minimum coal reserve of one million tonnes with a GCV of 5900 kCal/kg. But in the 2025 version, that threshold was slashed to 100,000 tonnes, which is a 90% reduction. This is highly suspicious,” Jayagoda said. He highlighted the company’s previous controversies, including a 2016 Auditor General’s report to the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), which found Trident Chemphar responsible for the violation of procurement rules during the 2014 supply of 30,000 tonnes of rice to Sathosa and match-fixing allegations.
This clearly shows how procurement guidelines were tailored to benefit selected bidders. Corruption today is not just political. It’s being driven by a well-entrenched network of senior officials and business racketeers,” Jayagoda charged, asking why the coal tender, typically called in March, had been delayed until July, despite electricity being designated an essential service. “When it came to relaxing procurement rules, discouraging solar rooftop installations, or hiking electricity tariffs, that ‘essential service’ label was conveniently ignored,” he said.
By Saman Indrajith