Champika rejects allegation linking him to coal tender

Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka today strongly denied allegation linking him to a controversial coal tender in 2015.

Ranawaka insisted that he was not the Minister in charge at the time the tender for the Norochcholai coal power plant was awarded.

He also called for a full investigation into the tender process followed since?2009 under the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government.

Opposition parliamentarian?Vasudeva Nanayakkara had?alleged this week that Patali Champika Ranawaka was responsible for the controversial coal?tender in the year 2015.

He claimed that Ranawaka had awarded the tender to a higher bidder when there were those who offered to supply coal for a lower price.

The Government has already appointed a three-member committee to monitor the tender procedure of the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant.

The appointments were made under the directions of the current Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya.

Accordingly, Prof. K.K.Y.W. Perera, Prof. Lakshman R. Watawala and Prof. Janaka B. Ekanayake have been appointed to the committee. (Colombo Gazette)