Former Minister of Energy, Kumara Jayakody, on Tuesday (30) appeared before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into coal transactions and gave a statement lasting nearly two hours. 

According to reports, Commission officials confirmed that he was extensively questioned on coal procurement and related activities.

Jayakody resigned from his ministerial post on April 17 to ensure the inquiry could proceed independently, though he continues to serve as a Member of Parliament. He was appointed Minister of Energy in November 2024.

The Commission, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gihan Kulatunga and appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, is tasked with investigating alleged irregularities in coal imports since 2009. Other members include Court of Appeal Justice Adithya Patabendige  and High Court Justice Sanjeewa Somaratne.

According to Commission Secretary D.V. Bandulasena, more than 100 statements have already been recorded from over 60 officials, including current and former Secretaries of the Ministry of Energy. The Commission has received 28 complaints, with evidence hearings scheduled to begin on July 3.

Officials also carried out an inspection of the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Power Plant earlier this month. 

Meanwhile, a report submitted to the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Public Utilities stated that substandard coal shipments had caused losses of around Rs. 8.49 billion. 

Committee Chairman MP S.M. Marikkar said the report highlighted excessive ash content and alleged that fines had not yet been collected.

Coal transactions have become a subject of heated debate both inside and outside Parliament, with the Commission expected to summon several other former ministers for questioning in the coming weeks. (Newswire)

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The Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate alleged irregularities in coal imports from 2009 to the present, visited the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai on Sunday (14).

According to the President’s Office, the delegation included the Secretary to the Commission, D. V. Bandulasena and other investigating officers. 

During the on-site inspection, the officials observed the entire coal handling and power generation process, from unloading of coal to electricity generation. 

Particular attention was paid to coal unloading operations, storage facilities, random sampling procedures, laboratory testing of samples and operations at the main control room. 

The Commission was appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to examine whether any irregularities or unlawful activities had occurred in relation to coal imports and electricity generation carried out by the state-owned Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd or its successors, from the commencement of coal-based power generation in Sri Lanka up to April 16. (Newswire)

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