Energy Minister and Secretary resign

Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and Ministry Secretary Professor Udayanga Hemapala resigned today, in letters addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

They tendered their resignations to allow for an impartial and independent investigation to be conducted by the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry to examine the process related to coal imports.

In his letter, Jayakody wrote that his continuing as Minister would be an obstacle to the investigation, while Prof. Hemapala cited similar reasons.

Presidential Commission of Inquiry

Exercising the provisions available to him in the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry Act, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake appointed a commission to investigate irregularities or illegal acts in the importation of coal by the state-owned Lanka Coal Private Company or its successors.

The investigation will span the period from the commencement of coal-based power generation in Sri Lanka up to April 16, 2026.

Supreme Court Justice Gihan Kulatunga has been appointed as the Chairman of the Commission. Court of Appeal Justice Adithya Patabendige and High Court Justice Sanjeewa Somaratne have been appointed as members. Former Ministry Secretary P.V. Bandulasena has been appointed as its Secretary.

The commission has also been tasked with reporting on measures that should be taken to prevent such situations from occurring.

Corruption Allegations Against Kumara Jayakody

The former Energy Minister was last month (March 27) charged by the Colombo High Court in relation to allegations of corruption by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

CIABOC alleged the Minister, during his tenure as Manager of the Procurement and Import Division of the Lanka Fertilizer Company, caused a loss of Rs. 8,859,708 to the government.

It alleged that Jayakody did this by acting in a manner that benefited a private company during a procurement process for laying carpets on the grounds of the Hunupitiya warehouse complex of the Lanka Fertilizer Company in 2016.

However, Kumara Jayakody had previously denied these allegations.

According to him, the allegations were based on an error in the procurement process.

Jayakody appeared before the court in accordance with a summons issued to him and, after being indicted, was released on two surety bonds of Rs. 1 million each.

The court ordered the case to be called for a pre-trial conference on May 6.

No-Confidence Motion Against Kumara Jayakody

Jayakody subsequently faced a no-confidence motion by a group of opposition MPs, which was submitted to the Speaker on
March 19, 2026.

According to Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Ajith P. Perera, the no-confidence motion was filed based on two allegations—the fact that the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption had filed a case against Mr. Jayakody and allegations of importing substandard coal.

Although the opposition was of the opinion that Mr. Jayakody was not fit to hold office due to the above allegations, the motion was defeated by 104 votes (153 against, 49 in favor).