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Sri Lanka's Energy Minister Resigns
Jayakody stepped down as a commission begins reviewing coal imports that officials say cut output at the Lakvijaya Power Plant, which supplies 40% of Sri Lanka's power.
- On Friday, Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and Ministry Secretary Udayanga Hemapala resigned, submitting their resignations to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to facilitate an independent investigation into coal imports.
- President Dissanayake appointed a Presidential Commission to investigate Lanka Coal Ltd after low-quality coal impacted the Lakvijaya Power Plant, which supplies about 40 per cent of Sri Lanka's power needs.
- Jayakody survived a no-confidence motion 153-49 on April 10, yet Sri Lanka had previously ordered 300,000 metric tons of emergency coal in March due to generation shortfalls.
- Regarding the resignation, Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath stated, "We are not trying to hide anything. Proper procurement guidelines and procedures were followed," denying fraud involvement.
- The Special Presidential Commission expects to conclude its investigation in six months, as Sri Lanka continues importing all fuel while recovering from a financial crisis that peaked four years ago.
16 Articles
16 Articles
No Fraud in Coal Imports, but Quality Issues Admitted – Minister Herath - LNW Lanka News Web
Minister Vijitha Herath today rejected allegations of fraud in the importation of coal, while acknowledging that a recent shipment was of substandard quality. He made these remarks at a special media briefing held at the Government Information Department on (17), attended by several ministers, following the resignation of Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody. Jayakody and Ministry Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala stepped down from their positions to…
Sri Lanka energy minister quits as president orders coal probe
COLOMBO (AFP) : Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody resigned on Friday after the president ordered an investigation into allegations of large-scale corruption in coal imports, the government said. The resignation follows a government audit last week that found substandard coal prevented a 900-megawatt thermal power plant — the country’s biggest — from operating at full capacity. To cover the shortfall, the state utility relied on more ex…
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