Sri Lanka Energy Minister and Secretary Resign to Ensure Independent Coal Probe

by Zulfick Farzan 17-04-2026 | 2:50 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Minister of Power and Energy, Kumara Jayakody, and Ministry Secretary Professor Udayang Hemapala have resigned from their respective posts to facilitate an impartial and independent investigation by the recently appointed Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry into coal imports and related electricity generation processes.

The resignations were formally conveyed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake through letters submitted on the afternoon of April 17, according to a statement issued by the Presidential Media Division.

Earlier on the same day, President Dissanayake appointed the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry with full powers to investigate whether any irregularities or illegal activities occurred in the importation of coal and coal‑based power generation.

The Energy Minister and the Ministry Secretary stated that their decision to step down was taken to support the neutrality, independence, and credibility of the forthcoming investigation.

In his resignation letter to the President, Minister Kumara Jayakody said he highly appreciated the President’s firm commitment to combating corruption and upholding the public mandate. He specifically cited the decision to appoint a Special Presidential Commission to investigate coal procurement, as well as the submission of a formal complaint by the Secretary to the President to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) requesting a proper investigation into coal imports dating back to 2009.

The Minister stated his belief that the investigations must be carried out in a completely independent and non‑partisan manner. He added that even his continued presence in office during the inquiry could be perceived as an obstacle to that process.

On this basis, he said he had decided to resign from his ministerial post with effect from April 17.

Meanwhile, Ministry Secretary Professor Udayang Hemapala, in his resignation letter, said he believed stepping down was appropriate in order to ensure that the upcoming investigations proceed without any hindrance and with full institutional independence. He stated that relinquishing his post would help create an environment fully conducive to an impartial inquiry.