The Supreme Court has issued notice to Power and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and several other respondents in connection with a Fundamental Rights Petition alleging that the government suffered a loss of over Rs 3 billion due to irregularities in awarding a tender for the Siyambalanduwa solar power plant in Athimal.
The petitioner claims that while the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) had invited tenders for the construction of a 100-megawatt solar power plant, the contract was wrongfully awarded to the highest bidder, ignoring the lowest bid, resulting in a major financial loss to the government.
The Supreme Court bench, consisting of Justices Thurairajah and Sampath B. Abeykoon, issued the notice and instructed that it be sent through courier service before February 24 at the petitioner’s expense.
According to the petition, a company that had initially offered to supply electricity at US$0.08 per kilowatt-hour was overlooked in favor of a bidder offering US$0.122 per kilowatt-hour, leading to a significant cost disparity. However, after securing the contract, the winning bidder later revised its offer to match the lower price of US$0.08 per kilowatt-hour. Despite this adjustment, the government agreed to cover additional transmission facility costs for 10 years, further escalating expenses.
The petitioner, Milinda Prasanna Madugalle, stated that he became aware of the controversial tender decision through media reports on January 21, 2025. The case has now raised serious concerns about transparency and accountability in public sector tender processes, particularly in the energy sector.
The Supreme Court’s intervention signals increased scrutiny over government procurement decisions and could potentially lead to further legal and policy reforms in Sri Lanka’s power and energy sector.
