Speaking in his capacity as Leader of the United Republic Front, Ranawaka stated that the Auditor General had been instructed at committee level to prepare a comprehensive report on coal imports between 2009 and 2016. He noted that the report has now been submitted along with a large number of supporting documents.
He further said that the full audit report will be released to the public in response to what he described as attempts to misrepresent facts through selective information. In addition to the report, he plans to disclose Cabinet papers, official correspondence, and directives issued by him to the Ceylon Electricity Board and other institutions.
Ranawaka emphasized that investigations have already been carried out by the Auditor General’s Department and that its findings should form the basis for any further inquiry. He also referred to a Presidential Commission appointed during the previous “good governance” period, chaired by Upali Abeyratne, which examined the matter.
According to him, evidence before the commission was led by Ayesha Jinasena, who is currently serving as Secretary to the Ministry of Justice. He added that he too provided several hours of testimony before the commission and retains records of the proceedings.
Ranawaka further alleged that a section of the commission’s report related to the Ceylon Electricity Board was later removed due to external pressure. He called for the omitted section to be made public and presented in Parliament.
