At the last election, the people overthrew the government with the expectation of a system change. However, although positions have changed, it is now clear like daylight that the invisible force of wealthy elites who exploit the country’s resources continue to operate behind the scenes as before. Under the current administration of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, what is taking place is yet another dark chapter, one that surpasses even the large-scale corruption of the past. This time, the stage for corruption has been set through the “coal mafia,” which has the power to plunge the entire country into darkness.
An Artificially Created Crisis and the Farce of the Emergency Tender
Recently, due to the supply of substandard coal by Trident Chemphar, the national power system lost a capacity of 150 MWV. Under normal and lawful procedures, strict action should have been taken against such a failing company, and responsibility should have been assigned to an experienced and reliable supplier through a proper tender process.
However, what the authorities did was to use this “artificial emergency situation” as a cover and hastily call an “Emergency Tender” to procure 300,000 MT of coal.
The so-called champion of this massive emergency tender is a company named Taranjot Resources. The most alarming and disturbing turning point in this matter is that the local agent in Sri Lanka for this Taranjot company is “Hayleys,” a company owned by well-known businessman Dhammika Perera.
The Rathupaswala Tragedy and the Persistent Shadow of Hayleys
If you have forgotten, it is necessary to recall the Rathupaswala incident. That tragedy, in which innocent civilians who took to the streets demanding clean drinking water were shot and killed, was linked to a factory owned by Hayleys, a company associated with Dhammika Perera. Just as Hayleys operated under the patronage of Mahinda Rajapaksa at that time and blood was shed in Rathupaswala, today the same Hayleys company has become a pillar of power within the government of Anura Kumara. It is not a coincidence that the same Hayleys company of Dhammika Perera was behind the recently controversial gas deal and is now involved in securing this unlawful emergency coal tender during this critical situation.
Business Interests Penetrating Pelawatta and Inexperienced Leadership
Whenever a government comes to power, it has become a recurring political reality in this country that powerful and influential business figures align themselves closely with the leadership. The same pattern is now evident around President Anura.
While leaders of previous governments had the experience to manage and navigate such business interests, the current President’s political and administrative inexperience has, in this instance, allowed these forces to gain considerable influence.
Business figures such as Dhammika Perera, who are said to have financially supported the political movement operating through the Pelawatta office even prior to coming to power, are now seen exerting influence over government decisions in line with their own interests.
Regardless of experience, and irrespective of whether established tender procedures are followed, these actors have resumed their familiar pattern of securing tenders to their advantage. As seen in the recently awarded gas tender, this coal tender granted to a party lacking experience appears to be yet another extension of that same underlying influence.
A Multi-Million Dollar Loss Revealed by Simple Arithmetic
The truth, visible to anyone who looks carefully, lies not in the empty statements made rapidly by President Anura Kumara, but in the pricing. Even the previously unsuccessful Trident company charged USD 98.50 per metric ton of coal. However, under this emergency tender, the Taranjot company with the involvement of Dhammika Perera has quoted a massive USD 142 per metric ton.
• Previous price: $98.50 (per metric ton)
• Emergency tender price: $142.00 (per metric ton)
• Additional amount per ton: $43.50
• Total loss to the country for 300,000 tons: USD 13 million (amounting to billions in public funds)
It is very clear that the attempt by the ‘National System Operator’ to recover 15% of system losses is merely an effort to cover up this massive commission and financial irregularity.
Auditor General’s Revelation: The Tender is Entirely Illegal
Does the Taranjot company, which is supplying coal at such a high price, have any legal qualification to do so? The official report of the Auditor General dated April 07, 2026 has completely exposed this corrupt operation.
According to the Auditor General’s report:
“Taranjot Resources has not fulfilled any of the requirements for registration with the Lanka Coal Company. Therefore, its registration as a supplier of the Lanka Coal Company is entirely illegal and void.”
Under such circumstances, any supply of coal by Taranjot Resources is entirely unlawful. It raises a serious question as to how a contract of this magnitude was awarded to a company lacking even the most basic registration and qualification requirements, seemingly on the basis of its association with Hayleys.
This situation clearly indicates a coordinated instance of large-scale corruption and malpractice, involving both senior state authorities and influential business interests.
What Must Be Done Immediately
At a time when ordinary citizens are struggling to meet even their daily electricity expenses and are forced to endure power shortages, it is unacceptable to continue awarding tenders to unqualified companies and allowing vast amounts of public funds to be misused.
The public must stand against this national wrongdoing that directly affects their lives.
Under these circumstances, the government must take the following immediate actions:
• Terminate without delay the coal supply agreement with Trident Chemphar.
• Annul in full and with immediate effect the supply contract unlawfully awarded to Taranjot Resources under the emergency tender.
The government must recognize that the people voted for a clean and accountable system, not for the continuation of past business dealings under new labels.
If this has been forgotten, it must be reminded:
The central promise made upon coming to power was to hold wrongdoers accountable and eliminate corruption. Those words were spoken by you. Have those promises now been forgotten?
