- Public signature drive launched
- Rs. 11 b loss alleged over substandard coal tender
- indicted Minister on bail as court case proceeds
- No-Confidence Motion set for 10 April debate
Amid mounting political and public pressure over a controversial coal tender, the Electricity Consumers Association (ECA) yesterday (29) launched a public petition demanding the immediate resignation of Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, alleging the procurement of substandard coal has caused massive financial losses to the State.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, the Association’s General Secretary, Sanjeewa Dhammika said the signature campaign commenced yesterday in Nugegoda, with plans to gather islandwide support before handing over the petition to the Presidential Secretariat.
He also said that it is the responsibility of the National People’s Power (NPP) as a political party that pledged integrity to expel the corrupt. “The Opposition claims the substandard coal tender has cost the Government Rs. 11 billion, and technical reports by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Electricity Board also indicate the same. But the Government remains silent on the matter. Once we have finished collecting signatures from all possible signatories in the coming days, we will hand it over to the President,” he said.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has publicly said that based on his own assessment, he did not believe fraud occurred in the process of coal procurement. However, he said the relevant institutions were free to investigate related allegations, and that he would act on their findings.
The Opposition led by the SJB has also filed a No-Confidence Motion against the Minister, scheduled for debate on 10 April 2026, over allegations concerning the coal procurement process.
Meanwhile, on 27 March 2026, indictments were served on Minister Jayakody before the Colombo High Court regarding alleged corruption in 2016 during his tenure at the Ceylon Fertiliser Company. However, he was granted bail on two personal bonds of Rs. 1 million each.