Term of PCoI on state sector corruption to be extended by a month

President Maithripala Sirisena will extend the term of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing state sector corruption by a month, a senior official at the Presidential Secretariat said.

Recently, the PCoI had requested the President to extend its term which was due to end on September 30. Accordingly, the senior official told Times Online that the term would be extended until October 30.

A gazette notification to this effect would be issued in due course, the official noted.

At present, the Police Unit of the Presidential Commission is conducting preliminary investigations into 96 complaints while the PCoI is investigating seven complaints.

The First Volume of the final report containing the complete investigations of 15 cases, was submitted to the President this week.

President Maithripala Sirisena had appointed the PCoI on January 17 to investigate allegations of corruption at state institutions between January 15, 2015 and December 31, 2018.

The PCoI, headed by former Supreme Court Judge Upali Abeyratne, comprises Retired Ministry Secretary Lalith R. de Silva, Retired High Court Judge Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena, and Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police Vijaya Amarasinghe.