SJB Calls for Accountability over Coal Controversy, Warns against Reappointing Kumara Jayakody

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has called for accountability over the financial impact of Sri Lanka’s substandard coal imports, arguing that former minister Kumara Jayakody should be held responsible for the controversy.

Speaking at an SJB media briefing, a party representative criticised reports that Jayakody could be reappointed as a Member of Parliament in January, saying such a move would be inappropriate while questions over the coal procurement process remained unresolved.

The speaker questioned Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka’s explanation of the financial impact, citing a figure of approximately Rs. 15.68 billion and arguing that the broader costs associated with electricity purchases and delayed coal deliveries also needed to be considered.

Questions over Electricity Generation Costs

The SJB representative alleged that Sri Lanka had incurred substantial additional expenditure on electricity purchases because the coal supplied did not meet the required standards.

According to the remarks, 19 coal shipments were identified as substandard, while the tender arrangements had provided for 25 shipments. The speaker also referred to delays in emergency procurement, which he said had contributed to the need to obtain electricity from alternative sources.

He claimed that electricity had been purchased separately from January through September and that the shortfall included the failure to receive the expected 300 megawatts of power generation. He added that the value of electricity generated using water resources had not been fully reflected in the figures he was discussing.

The speaker further alleged that diesel-based electricity generation had added to the financial burden and that delay-related charges had also contributed to the losses.

Dispute over the Scale of the Loss

The SJB representative argued that the total financial impact could reach approximately Rs. 20 billion and rejected what he described as attempts to protect Jayakody from responsibility.

However, the figures cited by the opposition differ from the government’s publicly stated assessment. Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka told Parliament that the estimated loss associated with substandard coal during 2025 and 2026 was Rs. 15.765 billion. He also said the government could recover Rs. 16.989 billion through penalties and performance guarantees from suppliers. <Cite refs={["turn824813search0","turn824813search1","turn824813search2"]}/>

The SJB representative insisted that responsibility for the coal procurement controversy should be addressed and said Jayakody should not be portrayed as a hero while the financial consequences remained under scrutiny.

The remarks add to continuing political debate over the coal imports, the cost of maintaining electricity supplies and the accountability of officials involved in the procurement process.