Single largest coal procurement delayed and mishandled due to idiocracy

THE recent debate and controversy over the single largest coal procurement needs to be unravelled.

- BY ANALYST

"Trident," the selected coal supplier to Lanka Coal won the bid at CIF price of $ 98.50, represented by Rakitha Rajapaksa. The next lowest bid is by "Potencia (SUEK)" at CIF $ 100.00, with ties to Namal Rajapaksa (handled by Yo).

JVP/NPP wanted to break away from previous coal suppliers and position themselves with a fresh outlook—which is great! But to do that, they altered standard procurement processes and proven tender guidelines.

Idiots.

These tender processes and guidelines have years of evolution in them and have been developed through fire. Yes, in 2022 and 2023 there were procurements outside these tender processes because Lanka Coal/SL was not able to produce Letters of Credit (LCs) due to default and Aragalaya.

The same goes for all other procurements/tenders and paying government salaries.