A presidential commission of inquiry has officially commenced proceedings to investigate widespread allegations of corruption, fraud, and abuse of power at the Colombo Municipal Council spanning a 15-year period.

The commission, established by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake under the Commissions of Inquiry Act of 1948, is tasked with investigating wrongdoing alleged to have occurred between 2010 and 2025. The scope of the inquiry includes criminal breach of trust, the misuse of state resources, unlawful recruitments, and procurement violations. Investigators will also scrutinise irregularities regarding the leasing of state property and legal settlements conducted outside of established protocols to determine the total loss caused to state revenue.

The commission is chaired by Piyasena Ranasinghe, a former High Court Judge and Attorney-at-Law. He is joined by E.R.M.S.H. Ekanayake of the Sri Lanka Accountants’ Service and retired Senior Superintendent of Police D.S. Wickramasinghe. Operating from its headquarters at No. 152, Galle Road, Colombo 03, the panel has been authorised to investigate current and former political officeholders, public servants, and private institutions.

An interim report is expected to be submitted to the secretary to the president within three months, with a final report containing recommendations for legal and administrative action due within six months. The commission has also been mandated to propose systemic reforms to prevent future misconduct.

Members of the public and relevant organisations are invited to submit written complaints in Sinhala, Tamil, or English to the commission’s secretary. All submissions must include the complainant’s contact details and identification, though the commission noted that anonymity may be requested. The deadline for both written submissions and the scheduling of oral evidence is 23 February 2026.