The Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Sri Lanka’s coal procurement is set to begin formal operations next week, with office setup currently underway in Colombo, according to NewsFirst.
The commission was gazetted Friday under the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry Act No. 7 of 1978. It is chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gihan Kulatunga, with Court of Appeal Justice Aditya Patabendige and High Court Justice Sanjeewa Somaratne as members.
Its mandate covers all coal import transactions involving Lanka Coal Company and its predecessors from the inception of coal-based power generation at Lakvijaya through April 16, 2026 — a scope broader than the parliamentary no-confidence debate that preceded it.
The commission’s establishment came days after Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and his Ministry Secretary resigned following mounting pressure over allegations of irregularities in coal purchasing. The Criminal Investigation Department had separately launched a probe and sealed the Lanka Coal Company’s offices.
A COPE audit and an Auditor General’s report had previously flagged over Rs. 2.24 billion in losses and penalties related to substandard coal deliveries. Consumer groups and opposition parties have demanded prosecutions.
