The Public Finance Committee proposed to Parliament today (04) that all those involved in the controversial coal tender process be removed from the tender process for a period of one year.
Its chairman, Dr. Harsha De Silva, quoting from a report of the Auditor General, stated that the coal tender procurement process was done against the government’s approved procurement guidelines.
The tender for supply of coal for Norochchole Coal Plant No. LCC/22/TT/1 was given to the lowest bidder. However as the said company refused to supply coal and the government had to invite tenders again.
According to a request from Dr. Harsha De Silva an audit report prepared by the Auditor General was presented to the Parliament today by the Chairman of the Committees on Government Finance, Dr. Harsha De Silva.
Also, citing this audit report, the Committee on Public Finance also presented a report to Parliament today.
According to the audit report, the Auditor General has observed that this coal procurement process is not in accordance with the guidelines of the government approved procurement process.
Especially in the procurement process, the objective of giving the qualified interested parties a fair and equal opportunity to participate in the procurements has been violated, the report said.
The Auditor General’s recommendation is to ensure that all parties involved in the coal procurement process are properly fulfilling their responsibilities in accordance with the government’s approved procurement guidelines and emphasize the need to take appropriate action against parties who deviate from that situation.
Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance, Member of Parliament,
Dr. Harsha de Silva,
“How could this tender be given to an unregistered company.”
Mr. Kanchana Wijesekera, Minister of Power and Energy,
“Before giving such a recommendation in this regard, listen to the officials who participated in the procurement process. Instead of a unilateral decision.”