Sri Lanka’s Minister for Power and Energy, Kumara Jayakodi, resigned on Friday shortly after the announcement of a high-level Presidential Commission to investigate coal imports by a state-owned entity used for power generation.
Jayakodi’s resignation marks the first ministerial exit from the National People’s Power government, which came to power in late 2024 on an anti-corruption platform. Notably, he had survived a no-confidence vote just a week earlier.
Alongside him, the Ministry’s Secretary Udayanga Hemapala also stepped down, according to a statement from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s office.
The President’s Media Division stated that the resignations were intended to ensure an independent and impartial investigation by the Special Presidential Commission appointed to examine issues related to coal imports.
Earlier in the day, the government had announced the formation of this high-powered commission to investigate Lanka Coal Ltd, covering the entire period since coal imports began for power generation up to April 16, 2026.
Jayakodi had recently faced a no-confidence motion in Parliament, becoming the first minister from the NPP government to do so. However, he retained his position after the motion was defeated by a margin of 153 to 49 on April 10, reflecting the government’s strong parliamentary majority.
The motion accused him of causing significant financial losses to the state through coal procurement and of jeopardizing national energy security by allegedly misusing the procurement process.
During the debate, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya defended Jayakodi, stating that the opposition had failed to substantiate its allegations. Jayakodi also maintained that both he and his party remain committed to the anti-corruption principles of the government.
He has previously been indicted by the Bribery and Corruption Commission over alleged misconduct during his tenure at the State Fertilizer Corporation.
The opposition had continued to press for his resignation, arguing that the seriousness of the allegations warranted his stepping down.
