Presidential Commission of Inquiry

Types

• Commission of Inquiry appointed under the provisions of the Commission of Inquiry Act of 1948, which as since been amended in 1950, 1953, 1955 and 2008.
• Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed under the provisions of the Special Presidential Commissions of Inquiry Law, No. 07 of 1978.

  Powers

Commission of Inquiry

• Procure and receive all evidence regarding the matter inquired
• Examine all persons whom the commission thinks should be procured or examined as witnesses
• Require the evidence of any witness to be given on oath or affirmation
• Summon any person residing in Sri Lanka to attend any meeting of the commission to give evidence or produce any document or others in his possession, and to examine him as a witness or require him to produce any document or others in his possession
• Admit any evidence notwithstanding any of the provisions of the Evidence Ordinance
• to admit or exclude the public from the inquiry or any part
• to admit or exclude the press from the inquiry or any part
• to obtain certified copies of any proceedings of any case, any document, any other material filed or recorded at any Court of Law or at any tribunal and to require any person to produce any document or material which is in his/her possession or custody.
• to require any person to provide whatever the information which he/she possesses, in writing.

  Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry

• to subject a person found guilty to civic disability, were as a Commission of Inquiry is a fact finding commission whose findings are not enforceable.
• A report, finding, order, determination, ruling or recommendation made by a Special Presidential Commission cannot be questioned in any court or tribunal as well.

  Membership

Notable commissions

• Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission
• Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Attacks
• Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Bond Issuance
• Presidential Commission of Inquiry in relation to the activities of Non-Governmental Organizations
• Presidential Commission of Inquiry in relation to the Malpractices and Corruption in State Institutions
• Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate and inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges
• Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Violations of Human Rights
• Presidential Commission of Inquiry to inquire into the alleged VAT fraud at the Department of Inland Revenue
• Presidential Commission on the Disappeared
• Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate the management of SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka.