The Special Presidential Commission investigating coal procurement closed its complaint submission window on Friday (22 May) with twenty-three complaints filed, up from sixteen reported earlier in the week, NewsFirst reported. Submissions could be made in writing or by post to the commission office on the fifth floor of the Hulftsdorp Court Complex, Sanchi Arachchi Gardens, Court Road, Colombo 12. The commission said investigations into all received complaints will commence immediately, with individuals to be called in to give evidence following initial reviews.
The commission recorded statements on 19 May from officials of Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd and the Lakvijaya Power Plant. It is chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gihan Kulatunga, with Court of Appeal Judge Adithya Patabendige and High Court Judge Sanjeewa Somaratne as members, under the gazette issued in April 2026 by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) chairman Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera said on Sirasa TV’s Satana programme on Monday night that COPE has approved a proposal to refer specific findings identified during its coal investigation to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
Dr. Samaraweera said COPE’s audit-based scope was limited and that a full investigation required handing relevant material to agencies with criminal authority. He said the next step is to present the report to Parliament and draw the Speaker’s attention to key findings, with recommendations already approved to refer essential sections to the CID or the Bribery Commission.
The presidential commission’s mandate covers the entire history of coal-based power generation in Sri Lanka up to 16 April 2026, examining both the Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd and its successors.
