Coal purchase tender criteria further relaxed: FLSP

Only 12 shipments of coal have arrived as of March this year. The shipments of coal which had come in from August are found to be of inferior quality 

By Yohan Perera  

The coal purchase procurement criteria has been further relaxed for spot tenders which was called on March 11, Front Line Socialist Party (FLSP) alleged yesterday.   

FLSP Secretary Education Affairs Pubudu Jayagoda alleged that the criteria has been further relaxed to enable the company which is charged with supplying inferior quality coal to win the new spot tender.   

“A tender was awarded to a certain company for the supply of 25 shipments of coal in September 2025. The company failed to supply stocks of coal on time. The allegations made against this company had come true today. The shipments were delayed. Accordingly, the first shipment came in end of December. Only 12 shipments of coal have arrived as of March this year. The shipments of coal which had come in from August are found to be of inferior quality. 

Accordingly, there was a threat of Sri Lanka going in for an energy crisis. This is why it was decided to go for a spot tender,” Jayagoda told a media briefing.   

“The term ‘reject value’ was used to determine the quality of coal. The accepted standard was that a kilo of coal should be able to produce 5,900 kilocalories of energy. The accepted ash content was 16 percent. However, this term has been done away with before calling for a spot tender on March 11. Accordingly, the term ‘Minimum Value’ has been introduced instead of ‘reject value,” Jayagoda added.   

He said the use of thermal power generated out of diesel will be obvious as there would be blackouts if not.