Allegations of political interference in coal quality testing have sparked fresh concerns over transparency, environmental safety, and accountability in Sri Lanka’s energy sector.
The Frontline Socialist Party has accused government-linked institutions of exerting political pressure on laboratories to alter reports on the quality of coal imported from the Indian company Trident Chempher. The allegation was made by the party’s Education Secretary, Pubudu Jagoda, who warned that scientific findings are being manipulated to shield those responsible.
Jagoda said the government rejected a report issued by the Ministry of Energy laboratory attached to the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai and sent coal samples to a Dutch-owned laboratory, Cotecna, operating in India. Cabinet Media Spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa had stated that the foreign laboratory report would be released on January 16, but it has yet to be made public.
“According to the information we have received, the relevant coal stock has been confirmed to be substandard, and pressure is being exerted on the relevant laboratory to change the report,” Jagoda said. He added that both the local laboratory and the Indian laboratory had found the coal to be substandard, warning that its use could damage power plant machinery and harm the environment.
He further noted that even if reports are altered, the calorific value of coal can be independently verified by comparing imported quantities with electricity generated. The party urged Cotecna not to release false data under political pressure and called on the President to order an impartial investigation and take action against those responsible.
