Touch-and-go with delayed coal shipments with country failing to find required dollars for six days

By Ifham Nizam

The Central Bank had agreed to pay USD 14 million to one of the ships carrying coal to the country’s coal fired power plant complex, a senior official of the Power Ministry said yesterday.

The Island learns that the transaction would be done through the Peoples’ Bank.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is all out to collect rupees to purchase the required dollars.

CEB Chairman M. M. C. Ferdinando was not immediately available for comment. He has instructed CEB senior management to find the money to have the coal stock cleared.

The Island learns that two ships carrying coal have already reached the country.

Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) President Anil Ranjith told The Island that USD 34 million had to be paid to the two ships that were scheduled to leave yesterday.

He expressed concern that if payments were not done they could sue the CEB for damages.

Ranjith also warned that if purchase failed one of the three power generation units at Norochcholai could not be operated for two months, and there would be longer power cut.

Meanwhile, another CEB official expressed confidence that the unloading of the coal consignment would get underway shortly.