Tilvin apologizes to the Coal Commission

Mr. Tilvin Silva, the General Secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), has expressed his regret to the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate the process of purchasing coal for the Lakvijaya Power Plant. He has thus apologized following a summons by the Commission, which was based on a controversial statement he made while addressing a May Day rally.

Mr. Tilvin Silva had accused on the said May Day platform that this Commission would exonerate parties connected to the National People's Power (NPP) government and only implicate individuals from the opposition. The Commission concluded that this statement posed a severe threat to its independence and constituted an undue influence on its investigative work, and therefore took steps to issue a summons to the General Secretary to inquire into the matter.

Accordingly, the JVP General Secretary appeared before the Commission with a group of his lawyers and expressed his regret through an affidavit, clarifying the facts regarding the incident. Taking into consideration the facts presented by him and his apology, the Commission decided to release him after severely admonishing him in this regard.

This Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry is chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gihan Kulatunga, with Court of Appeal Justice Aditya Patabendige and High Court Justice Sanjeewa Somaratne serving as its other members. This Commission was established by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on April 17th to investigate alleged irregularities and illegal activities in the importation of coal and through Lanka Coal Company or related institutions, from the inception of electricity generation at coal power plants in Sri Lanka until April 16, 2026.