Coal Controversy takes an Unexpected Turn

COLOMBO (News 1st); Rakitha Rajapakshe, Director and Shareholder in Invest.LK, a company that owns shares in Panaurora (Pvt) Ltd, has denied that either company has links to Trident Chemphar Ltd, the company that won the controversial coal tender.

“Neither Invest.lk (Pvt) Ltd nor Panaurora (Pvt) Ltd has any connection with the coal procuring company whatsoever. The Directors have their personal business and interests which has no bearing on these companies nor myself”, Rakitha Rajapakshe stated in a social media post.

Rajapakshe’s denial further muddies the controversy over who is responsible for the catastrophic failure to supply high-quality coal to the crucial Lakvijaya coal power plant in Norochcholai. Coal supplied by Trident Chemphar has been found to be substandard, leading to a shortfall in generation (Source).

Rakitha Rajapakshe is the son of former Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe PC. According to his profile on Linkedin , he earlier worked as Campaign Manager – Propaganda on the 2014/15 election campaign of President Maithripala Sirisena, and then as Media Secretary at the Ministry of Defence during the Yahapalana regime. He has recently been pictured with several senior leaders of the Opposition.

The shortage of quality coal to power the Lakvijaya coal power plant at Norochcholai is causing Sri Lanka to rely ever more heavily on diesel and furnace oil for power generation. But with the Middle East War causing prices of diesel and furnace oil to skyrocket, this is causing electricity tariffs to increase rapidly, with resultant hardships to the public and the economy (Source).

Sri Lanka is heavily reliant on Lakvijaya, as it is the country’s largest power station with a capacity of 900 megawatts, far more than the second largest - Kelanitissa which produces just 360MW.