The Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry investigating coal transactions has summoned officials from the Auditor General’s Department to testify on Wednesday, May 13, NewsFirst reported. The Commission said the officials were called in to clarify several key issues raised in past audit reports.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Energy and officials from the Electricity Generating Company are scheduled to testify on Thursday, May 14. Investigators have already recorded statements from officials across multiple institutions linked to coal procurement.
NewsFirst confirmed on Thursday morning that statements were being recorded from the Energy Secretary and power generation company officials as scheduled. The Commission said it has now obtained statements from officials representing seven parties connected to the coal import and electricity generation investigation.
The summons mark the first time the Commission has formally drawn the Auditor General’s Department into testimony — until now it has worked with documents and statements from procurement and generation entities, with police investigations operating in parallel from Adhikarana Piyasa. Testimony from the Energy Secretary is the most senior ministry-level appearance to date in the probe.
The Commission, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gihan Kulatunga with Court of Appeal Justice Aditya Patabendige and High Court Judge Sanjeewa Somaratne as members, was appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in April with full powers under the Commissions of Inquiry Act to examine all coal transactions since 2009.
The Commission began recording statements from Lanka Coal Company and Energy Ministry officials on May 5 and has invited public submissions until May 22. Earlier accountability tracks include the COPF Auditor General report flagging Rs. 2.24 billion in efficiency losses on substandard coal, and Joint Opposition allegations that a contractor was unregistered at tender signing. Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and his ministry secretary resigned in April.
Sources: NewsFirst (May 13), NewsFirst (May 14 update).
