Lanka Mineral Sands misled Cabinet on ilmenite tender; alleges COPE

Colombo (News 1st); Sri Lanka's parliamentary watchdog the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) ordered Lanka Mineral Sands to immediately investigate and submit a report on the tender awarded for the sale of 85,000 metric tons of ilmenite.

On Wednesday (24) officials from the Ministry of Industries including its secretary appeared before COPE for an inquiry. COPE grilled Lanka Mineral Sands Limited over the sale of 85,000 metric tons of ilmenite at US$ 147 per ton to the third-placed bidder instead of the buyer who had offered the highest price of US$ 165 per ton of ilmenite. Officials of Lanka Mineral Sands stated that the tender for the sale had been awarded by a tender subcommittee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers and that the Cabinet had given its approval. COPE members alleged that officials of Lanka Mineral Sands Limited had misled the Cabinet of Ministers.