2026-03-04 / Debate: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill - Second Reading and Committee Stage

Hon. Upul Kithsiri

2026-03-04

Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri rose on a Point of Order to challenge a fellow Member's repeated assertion that fraud had occurred in coal procurement. He referenced precedents from 2014, 2021, and 2022, noting that substandard coal within accepted ranges had previously been admitted with double penalties applied. He demanded a specific and direct answer as to whose account the money from the alleged fraud was deposited into, and criticised the Member for failing to present supporting documentation — such as cheque numbers from China — before making such claims.

Sir, rise to a Point of Order. Hon. Member, I said that the same situation had occurred in 2014, 2021 and 2022 — substandard coal within the accepted ranges was admitted, and therefore double penalties were levied. My precise question to you is this: you have said two or three times now that there was fraud in bringing coal. Whose account did that money go to? Whose? If you had said earlier that you would examine all files and after putting the cheque numbers from China on the table you would proceed, that would be fine. But you did not say that then. Please answer this question.