A Presidential Commission of Inquiry is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue ordered by the President of Sri Lanka to report findings, give advice and make recommendations.[1][2]
Types
Two types of inquiries can be commissioned;
- 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 (written or oral) regarding the matter inquired
- Examine all persons whom the commission thinks should be procured or examined as witnesses
- Require the evidence (written or oral) 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 (written or oral) 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
A Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry is more powerful than a Commission of Inquiry with powers;
- 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
The President of Sri Lanka has the power to appoint a Commission of Inquiry under a presidential warrant with one or more members. In a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry, the President will appoint of a member each of whom is a Judge of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court or the District Court.
Notable commissions
- Commissions of Inquiry
- Special Presidential Commissions of Inquiry
See also
References
- ^ President Appoints Commission of Inquiry to Probe Corruption and Abuse of Power
- ^ Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry
- ^ President Appoints Commission of Inquiry to Probe Corruption and Abuse of Power
- ^ SriLankan and Mihin Air Probe Justice Goonaratne heads PCoI
