No Complaints Filed on Coal Fraud Claims By Those Making Allegations, Says Minister

COLOMBO (News 1st); Construction and Water Supply Minister Dr. Susil Ranasinghe stated that individuals who had raised allegations of fraud in coal procurement have failed to submit complaints to the Special Presidential Commission appointed to investigate the matter.

He emphasized that those who made accusations in political forums should present their claims to theSpecial Presidential Commission of Inquiry instead of avoiding it, noting that various statements had been made publicly without being formally reported.

Under the current government, the opposition and several civil organizations alleged that serious financial irregularities and fraud had occurred in coal procurement processes. During the same period, a special audit report on the procurement activities of the Lanka Coal Company was presented to Parliament, revealing numerous irregularities in the tender process.

However, the government rejected allegations of fraud, maintaining that no illegal activities had taken place within the procurement process. It acknowledged only that certain shipments of coal had been below the required quality standards.

Subsequently, a full-fledged Special Presidential Commission, headed by Supreme Court Justice Gihan Kulatunga, was appointed on April 17 to investigate all coal transactions in Sri Lanka since the inception of coal-based power generation in the country.

In a show of support for the independent process of the Commission, Minister of Power Kumara Jayakody and the Ministry Secretary, Professor Udayanga Hemapala, resigned from their positions on the same day the Commission was established.

Dr. Ranasinghe called on those making allegations to provide evidence directly to the Commission. He noted that claims had been made accusing former Power Minister Kumara Jayakody of wrongdoing, including meeting a coal supplier in Russia and receiving a commission of five crores during coal import transactions.

He urged accusers to present concrete details, including where and when such meetings allegedly took place, with whom, and under what circumstances. He also questioned claims that Jayakody had interfered in the coal procurement process, stating that an opportunity had now been given to substantiate those accusations with evidence.

The Minister further dismissed attempts to avoid the Commission by citing external reasons, urging all parties making allegations to formally submit their claims and supporting documents instead of making unverified statements in public or political platforms.