- SJB yet undecided
The main Parliamentary Opposition, the SJB, is yet to decide whether it will make submissions to the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate alleged irregularities in coal imports and coal power generation, while the SLPP plans to make submissions in the coming days.
Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (13), SJB General Secretary and Parliamentarian Ranjith Madduma Bandara said the Party had not yet discussed the matter. “We have not discussed this yet. First, we need to see who has been appointed to the Commission. We will consider that and then decide whether to make submissions or not. We will discuss this within the management committee,” he said.
Meanwhile, the SLPP stated that it intended to present submissions before the Commission despite having concerns regarding the appointment of the Commission's Secretary. “We will make submissions to the Commission. However, we have an issue regarding the appointment of the Secretary to the Commission and his politics. Despite that, we will make our submissions in the coming days,” SLPP MP DV Chanaka said.
The Commission was appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake under the Special Presidential Commissions of Inquiry (Special Provisions) Act, No. 4 of 1978 to investigate whether irregularities or unlawful acts had taken place in the importation of coal to Sri Lanka and in electricity generation by the State-owned Lanka Coal Company and its successors, from the beginning of coal power generation in the country up to 16 April.
The Commission is Chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gihan Kulatunga, with Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Adithya Patabendige and High Court Judge Sanjeewa Somaratne serving as members. Former Ministry Secretary PV Bandulasena has been appointed as the Secretary to the Commission.
The inquiry will examine alleged irregularities in coal procurement, possible financial losses to the Government, the importation of substandard coal, procurement and quality testing procedures, operational failures, and whether electricity generation using imported coal had been carried out efficiently. The Commission will also identify any political authorities, public officials, Lanka Coal Company officers, suppliers, or representatives responsible for irregularities and recommend appropriate action and future safeguards.
The Commission was appointed following a Special Audit Report issued by the National Audit Office on 2 April regarding coal procurement for the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai during the tenure of former Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody of the current Government. The controversy had also led the SJB to bring a no-confidence motion against Jayakody, although it was later defeated in Parliament. Jayakody and the then Ministry Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala subsequently stepped down from their positions, claiming that they did so to allow for an independent inquiry into the matter.