The Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana

The speaker defends the current government's procurement process for coal imports, arguing that it is transparent and competitive. He contrasts this with previous practices under the 2015–2016 period, when 100% payments were reportedly released based on Load Port Reports before coal physically arrived in Sri Lanka. He suggests that criticism of the current tender process is motivated by the loss of a USD 150 million contract that was previously awarded through Cabinet papers.

## Summary Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana responded to the Opposition's adjournment motion by defending the current government's anti-corruption record, noting that Sri Lanka's Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index ranking improved 14 places (from 121st to 107th) within 500 days, and that loss-making state-owned enterprises have been returned to profitability, tabling a list of 52 such entities. The speaker countered allegations of a "coal scam" by presenting historical irregularities in coal procurement from 2009 to 2019, citing an Auditor General audit covering five tenders, including a 2011 emergency purchase from Noble Resources International at an inflated price causing a Rs. 3.5 billion loss, and a 2015–2016 penalty reduction for Liberty Commodities during Hon. Ajith P. Perera's tenure as State Minister that resulted in an approximate USD 15.8 million (Rs. 5 billion) loss—a matter still in litigation between CEB and Lanka Coal Company. The speaker further challenged Hon. Marikkar to substantiate claims regarding a Homagama People's Bank account and characterised the Opposition's opposition as motivated by loss of access to a USD 150 million tender stream, with portions of the speech expunged on the Chair's order.