United Republican Front (URF) leader Patali Champika Ranawaka and URF Secretary General Bandula Chandrasekara yesterday (16) made written submissions to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing the procurement of coal, beginning 2009.

Chandrasekera said that submissions had been made by Ranawaka in his previous capacity as a fomer Power and Energy Minister.

The PCoI consists of Supreme Court Justice Gihan Kulatunga as Chairman, with Court of Appeal Justice Adithya Patabendige and High Court Judge Sanjeewa Somaratne appointed as members. Former Ministry Secretary P. V. Bandulasena has been appointed as the Secretary to the Commission.

Chandrasekera said that they based their submissions on altogether four reports released by the Auditor General, including the one that dealt with the procurement of coal for the 2025/2026 period and other reports from the PUCSL and the CEB.

According to Chandrasekera, the AG’s report that dealt with the procurement by the incumbent government pointed out that the tender had been awarded to an Indian company that was not even qualified to be included in the process. “We are confident the PCoI will bring false narratives to an end and ascertain the truth,” Chandrasekera said. They provided detailed explanations to the crisis caused by the procurement of low quality coal from South Africa.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Officer-in-Charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has told the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) that retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay was subjected to a strip- search on 08 March in front of other detainees.

The CID arrested the former head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) on 25 February, 2026, in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday investigation.

The HRC launched an inquiry after receiving a complaint from Sallay’s family regarding ill-treatment under detention.

The HRC has ordered the police officers present, at the time the search was done, to tender documentation on search procedures (SOP’s ) , dates the search were being carried out for the current year, CCTV footage. Names of Persons who carried out the search on 8 March, date of informing magistrate and HRC on the submission of the detention order. The HRC has asked for these to be submitted on or before 26 June, 2026.

Based on intelligence received by the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, a special operation was conducted at the Kammala Wella beach area, in Chilaw, in coordination with the Sri Lanka Navy, during which a suspect was arrested, along with a lorry transporting over 2,000 kg of Kendu leaves and 41,000 Beedi, on 15th June 2026.

The gross street value of Kendu leaves and Beedi taken into custody in this operation is believed to be over fourteen (14) Million.

The arrested suspect, together with the recovered stock of Kendu leaves, Beedi, and the lorry, was handed over to the Excise Department Office, in Biyagama, for further investigation and legal action.