Police have been deployed to provide special protection to the office of Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd, following a formal complaint lodged by the Secretary to the President with the Criminal Investigation Department on April 11.
The security deployment came after Secretary to the President Nandika Sanath Kumanayake filed a CID complaint requesting a comprehensive investigation into coal imports since 2009. The complaint is grounded in Auditor General reports and parliamentary findings that identified irregularities in coal procurement.
465 shipments, 452 under previous governments
Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake told Parliament on April 10 that 465 coal shipments have been imported since 2009, with 452 procured under previous administrations and only 13 during the current government’s tenure.
The police protection of the Lanka Coal Company office suggests authorities are moving to secure records and evidence ahead of the formal investigation. The CID probe runs parallel to the Special Presidential Commission headed by a sitting Supreme Court judge that was announced during the same parliamentary session.
The security move follows a politically charged week in which the no-confidence motion against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody was defeated 153-49, with the government framing the commission and CID complaint as its accountability response. A COPE special audit and separate efficiency audit had previously documented quality certification irregularities and losses of Rs. 2.24 billion.
Sources: Ada Derana
