Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody on Friday resigned from his position, amid mounting opposition pressure over serious allegations of corruption in coal procurement, even as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake appointed a commission to probe irregularities in coal imports to Sri Lanka.
A statement from the President’s office said the Minister, along with the Secretary to the Ministry, resigned to “facilitate an impartial and independent investigation to be conducted by the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry”.
An earlier statement from the Presidential Media Division said the Commission was tasked with examining whether any irregularities or unlawful acts occurred in coal imports and in the generation of electricity by the state-owned Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd or its successors.
In late March, Minister Jayakody was granted bail by the Colombo High Court — based on two sureties of LKR 1 million (roughly ₹3 lakh) each — after indictments were served against him in the corruption case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.
Procurement process
According to the indictment, Jayakody is accused of causing a loss of over LKR 8.8 million to the government in 2016, while serving at Lanka Fertiliser Company, by favouring a private company in a procurement process.
The indictment triggered sharp criticism from members of the political opposition and civil society, who reminded the Dissanayake government and the ruling National People’s Power administration of their key pre-poll promise of wiping out corruption.
The Opposition tabled a no confidence motion against the Minister last week, but it was defeated in Parliament, where the ruling NPP enjoys a majority. Until Friday, senior figures in government appeared to back the Energy Minister, dismissing the corruption allegations as unsubstantiated, as they responded to government critics who accused the administration of protecting a corrupt politician.
However, calls for Jayakody’s resignation grew louder, with heightening local media attention on the issue. Last week, local newspaper Daily FT said in its editorial: “The Government’s moves to defend Jayakody in spite of serious and grave allegations against him would undoubtedly undermine its credibility and reputation.”
Published on April 17, 2026