KOTTE REPORTER:
Adding fuel to the fire ignited by the coal procurement scandal, SJB Parliamentarian S.M. Marikkar launched a scathing attack on the government yesterday, exposing what he termed the “Coal Mafia” operating within the energy sector.
“Are the People Paying for Your Corruption?”
In his fiery speech, MP Marikkar shifted the focus from technical jargon to the direct impact on the common man. He argued that the discrepancies in coal quality are directly responsible for the unbearable electricity tariffs.
“On one hand, global coal prices are dropping. On the other, you are importing low-quality coal but paying premium prices. Whose pocket is being filled with this difference of millions of dollars?”
questioned Marikkar.
The Question of Accountability
Backing the documentary evidence previously tabled by MP D.V. Chanaka regarding the “Lanka Coal” quality reports, Marikkar accused the authorities of a calculated robbery.
“The coal you import cannot generate electricity efficiently because it is essentially garbage. Yet, you pass the cost to the consumer. Isn’t it true that electricity bills have to be hiked to cover up these thefts?”
Investigative Insight
MP Marikkar’s intervention has broadened the scope of the debate. While previous arguments focused on procurement dates and chemical composition, Marikkar successfully linked the “Quality Fraud” to the “Cost of Living Crisis.” His speech suggests that the government’s inability to provide a transparent answer regarding the specific quality parameters of the imported stock is an admission of guilt.