Coal deals: Six bosses summoned to commission

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry investigating coal transactions that took place during the past period has recorded statements from several high-ranking officials, including the Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy, the Additional Secretary, and the Registrar of Companies. In addition, three heads of the Lakvijaya Power Plant have also given evidence before the commission, and their statements were recorded yesterday (13).

It is reported that the entire process of questioning witnesses related to this incident commenced on the 6th of last month.

Meanwhile, the Commission also took steps to record a special statement yesterday (13) from Mr. Mujibur Rahman, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Member of Parliament for the Colombo District, who had lodged a complaint with the Commission regarding the coal transactions. The Secretary to the Commission, Mr. D.V. Bandulasena, stated that this statement was obtained for further investigations related to the complaint made by the MP. The Commission has so far taken steps to record nearly a hundred statements from over 60 individuals.

This special Commission of Inquiry was appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to conduct a comprehensive investigation into all coal transactions that have occurred from 2009 to date. This commission, operating under the chairmanship of Supreme Court Justice Gihan Kulatunga, has Court of Appeal Justice Aditya Patabendige and High Court Justice Sanjeewa Somaratne as its other members. An audit report has also revealed that the government has incurred a massive financial loss exceeding 223 crore rupees due to the import of substandard coal into the country.