Sri Lanka, Sept. 30 -- The Presidential Commission of Inquiry investigating alleged irregularities in coal imports since 2009 has issued notices to eighteen individuals, including former Power and Energy Minister Engineer Kumara Jayakody.

The group appeared before the commission yesterday, following which the notices were formally issued. They have until the 9th of next month to respond to the allegations, with the option of submitting evidence through lawyers and obtaining records of previous testimonies.

Those summoned yesterday included ministry secretaries, officials from the Norochcholai coal power plant, and the accountant of the Lakvijaya power plant.

Supreme Court Judge Gihan Kulatunga chairs the commission, alongside Court of ...