The Hon. Arkam Ilyas - Deputy Minister of Power

Deputy Minister Arkam Ilyas responded to a parliamentary motion criticising the 2025–2026 coal tender, defending the government's procurement process as legally sound and cost-effective. He rejected the motion's factual claims, correcting the cited coal requirement figure and disputing allegations that the awarded company lacked qualifications, arguing that a pre-registration process ensured only eligible suppliers could bid and that no appeals were filed during the statutory 14-day appeal period. Ilyas further argued that the tender followed recommendations made by both the Auditor General and the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), resulting in an award price of US$98 per metric tonne—significantly lower than a previously attempted US$324 per tonne in an earlier tender cycle. He also raised concerns about a prior instance where Cabinet approved a post-award contract to an unqualified company over a legitimate winning bidder, warning this undermined international supplier confidence in Sri Lanka's procurement integrity.