The Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry into coal imports has formally commenced active police investigations, with officers assigned to the Commission beginning preliminary inquiries from its newly established office at the Magistrates’ Court Complex, Court Square, Colombo 12.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Commission said the investigations would examine alleged irregularities in coal imports and electricity generation across a 17-year period from 2009 to April 16, 2026. Its operational base is the 5th floor of the Magistrate’s Court Complex at Adhikarana Piyasa, Sanchi Arachchi Watta, Adhikarana Mawatha, Colombo 12.
The development marks a qualitative escalation from the Commission’s prior public hearings and testimony-gathering work — the hearings began at Hulftsdorp on April 27 under Supreme Court Justice Gihan Kulatunga, with Court of Appeal Judge Aditya Patabendige and High Court Judge Sanjeeva Somaratne completing the bench. Until now, the Commission had focused on receiving submissions and reviewing documentary evidence; the deployment of police investigators allows it to take statements, summon suspects and pursue lines of inquiry directly.
In a public notice published on April 30, the Commission called on individuals and institutions to provide any information they may have regarding past coal transactions. Submissions are requested on or before May 22, 2026.
The Commission was appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake under the Commissions of Inquiry Act with full powers to probe the legality and transparency of coal procurement deals from the start of coal-fired generation in Sri Lanka. Its launch followed a National Audit Office finding that the contractor supplying Lakvijaya coal, Trident Champhar, was unregistered at contract signing, as well as an opposition no-confidence motion against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody whose secretary resigned over the controversy.
