A heated debate unfolds as Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe challenges critical sections of the Auditor General’s report, insisting there was no fraud in the controversial coal importation process.
Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe says that several facts presented in the Auditor General’s report submitted in relation to the controversial coal importation incident are not acceptable, raising fresh questions about the accuracy and interpretation of the findings.
The Minister made this statement while participating in the 360 program aired on TV Derana last night (20), where the issue of the coal procurement controversy and the Auditor General’s observations were discussed in detail.
He further emphasized that the Auditor General’s report did not explicitly state that any fraud had taken place, but instead pointed out certain possible situations, which he believes have been misinterpreted in the public and political discourse.
Speaking at the program, Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said,
”Therefore, the government’s position is that there was no fraud in this incident. That is what I and our ministers are saying. Then, in an environment where there was no fraud, a vote of no confidence is brought in Parliament. We know that the government will win with a majority. That is an expected situation.. It is very clear that not only the government’s position, but we do not believe that there has been any deficiency in the procurement process in this process.
Then the Auditor General’s report should say that this Procurement Commission, or this registration under the procurement conditions, did not take place at this time.. That is why this should be said to be irrelevant. There is a letter written by the Procurement Commission in August 2025..
The relevant presentation in the Auditor General’s report is wrong.. There is a letter written to the bidders… At the time of this Auditor General’s report, 4980 deposits were made, why are 20 being returned.. He then took the document. “I know that there was a 20 shortfall at the time of the transaction. That’s why they are saying that the money was not paid properly…
That’s what I’m saying. There are problems with the way some of these reports came and the way some of the facts were compiled in them. This is not to say that the Auditor General’s report is wrong. This is to say that some of the facts and parts in it are wrong.”
