Sri Lanka, May 26 -- Another vessel carrying coal anchored near the Colombo Port has sparked controversy after concerns were raised regarding its compliance with tender specifications, the Free Lawyers Association said in a statement.

The organisation noted that copies of the ship's cargo manifest were circulated on April 30 to officials of the coal company and the Secretary to the Ministry of Energy, among others.

According to the report, the vessel arrived from the Richards Bay Coal Terminal in South Africa carrying 59,766 metric tons of coal.

The statement further claimed that the coal's ash content stands at 16.8%, exceeding the 16% limit specified in the tender issued by the Ceylon Coal Company, potentially placing the shipment ou...