The Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights has called on the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to immediately launch a criminal investigation into the alleged procurement of undersized coal for the Lakvijaya Power Plant.
A written complaint submitted yesterday by the alliance’s Chairman, Dr. Sanjeewa, points to findings in the Auditor General’s report, which he claims indicate the procurement irregularities were not accidental but part of a “planned conspiracy.”
According to Dr. Sanjeewa, the alleged issues began during the contract awarding stage, where contracts were reportedly granted to an unregistered company.
Highlighting the scale of the alleged losses, he compared the matter to the past controversy surrounding substandard medicine procurement during the tenure of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. While that incident involved losses amounting to hundreds of thousands of rupees, Dr. Sanjeewa claimed the suspected financial damage linked to the coal procurement under the current administration is estimated at around Rs. 20 million.
He also warned that the alleged use of substandard coal could trigger wider consequences, including major economic losses for the state, rising electricity tariffs, and disruptions to power supply affecting the public.
Environmental and health concerns were also raised, with Dr. Sanjeewa alleging that high mercury levels in the coal could create serious risks for human health, marine ecosystems, and wildlife.
He further expressed concern that despite several earlier complaints made to authorities, no substantial investigations have yet been conducted.
The complaint was handed over in the presence of representatives from independent professional associations and civil rights groups, who staged a demonstration with protest placards backing the demand for an official inquiry.
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