Update (April 15): The Lanka Coal Company office in Kohuwala reopened on April 15 after the CID collected the specific files required for its investigation into coal imports spanning back to 2009. The Ministry of Power and Energy confirmed that operations have returned to normal.

The office had been sealed since April 12, with the CID collecting necessary files related to its ongoing investigation before normal operations could resume, the Energy Ministry confirmed.

The office was sealed last week following a complaint by the Secretary to the President regarding coal imports dating back to 2009. A 24-hour security detail of four police officers and two CID officials has been stationed at the premises while investigators analyse documents and gather evidence.

The Ministry said the investigation has caused no disruption to power plant operations. Coal supply remains steady with the 15th shipment — carrying 60,000 metric tonnes — now being unloaded.

In a separate but related development, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) unanimously decided not to pass costs incurred from substandard coal quality on to consumers. The National System Operator (NSO) had requested a 15% tariff hike for the second quarter of 2026 to cover a Rs. 16 billion deficit in power generation, citing dry weather, the Middle East crisis, and coal quality issues.

PUCSL, which recently approved a 10% tariff adjustment for the same period, said only fair and reasonable generation, transmission, and distribution costs would be considered. The Commission emphasised that “unfair” costs related to coal quality failures have been and will continue to be excluded from tariff calculations.

Update (June 2): Cabinet Spokesman and Health Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa reiterated at the post-Cabinet media briefing that the financial burden from substandard coal shipments will not be passed on to electricity consumers, saying both President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the PUCSL had previously given that assurance. Jayatissa added that authorities have mechanisms to recover costs from the relevant companies, including legal action, and noted that the Presidential Commission examining the matter had been given until May 22 to receive submissions before issuing its independent determinations.