Presidential probe into coal imports extended to 16 Dec.

Wednesday, 21 October 2026 00:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday extended until 16 December, 2026 the term of the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry investigating alleged irregularities in coal imports and related operations of Lanka Coal Ltd.

The extension was announced through Extraordinary Gazette No. 2510/81, issued under Section 4 of the Special Presidential Commissions of Inquiry Act, No. 4 of 1978. The Commission’s previous term ended on 16 October, 2026, and the extension will allow it to continue its investigations, complete its inquiries and submit its final findings.

The Commission was established through Extraordinary Gazette No. 2484/08 on 17 April, 2026. Its mandate is to investigate alleged irregularities and illegal activities relating to coal imports, coal-based electricity generation and associated procurement operations of Lanka Coal (Private) Limited. The inquiry covers the period from the commencement of coal power generation up to 16 April, 2026.

The three-member Commission comprises Supreme Court Judge Kulugammana Mudiyanselage Gihan Himanu Kulugammana, Court of Appeal Judge Aditya Karunaratne Maddumapatabendige and High Court Judge Hettisinghege Sanjeewa Somaratne.

The extension comes days after an expert committee report tabled in Parliament put the cost of substandard coal supplied to the Lakvijaya Power Plant between January and September this year at Rs. 15.7 billion. That total comprises Rs. 7.1 billion in higher coal consumption and Rs. 8.6 billion spent on replacement power. The report separately calculated a Rs. 2.3 billion premium on emergency coal procurement.