Sri Lanka, May 19 -- Energy Minister Anura Karunathilake has strongly refuted widespread social media claims alleging that the government is paying massive delay charges (demurrage) for ongoing coal shipments, assuring the public that the situation will place zero additional financial burden on electricity consumers.
Speaking at a special media briefing, Minister Karunathilake clarified that the state-run Lanka Coal Company is contractually exempt from paying any late fees because the shipping companies themselves failed to meet their scheduled arrival windows.
He detailed that multiple vessels under the main term-tender arrived this year, past their deadlines, while emergency procurement shipments via Taranjot Resources faced similar del...