Colombo, Sri Lanka's Minister for Power and Energy Kumara Jayakodi resigned on Friday after a Presidential Commission was announced to probe state-owned coal imports. Jayakodi, who survived a 'No Trust' vote last week, is the first resignation of the National People's Power government since it was elected in late 2024.
Along with Jayakodi, Ministry's Secretary Udayanga Hemapala too resigned from the post, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's office said. The move is to facilitate an independent investigation by the Special Presidential Commission appointed to probe matters related to coal imports.
Jayakodi was the first NPP minister to face a 'No Trust' motion, but survived on the strength of sheer parliamentary numbers enjoyed by the NPP to soundly defeat it 153-49 on April 10. He has already been indicted by the Bribery and Corruption Commission for misconduct in his previous job in the State Fertiliser Corporation.
