Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) member M.A. Sumanthiran has welcomed the voluntary resignation of Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody over the substandard coal procurement scandal, but strongly criticized the government and National People’s Power (NPP) members of Parliament for defending him and voting to retain him in office.
In a statement on ‘X’, former MP Sumanthiran noted that it was unacceptable that the government and NPP MPs continued to shield him despite the administration itself conceding that the coal imported was below standard.
“The resignation of the Minister must be lauded; but in the same breath, the government and NPP members of Parliament must be condemned for defending him and voting to retain him as Minister even after the government itself conceded that the coal was in fact substandard,” Sumanthiran said.
He further pointed out that Jayakody is also facing a separate indictment by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) in another case, underscoring the need for accountability and transparency in governance.
Kumara Jayakody stepped down from his ministerial portfolio of Energy yesterday (17) to ensure a transparent investigation by the newly appointed special Presidential Commission into the substandard coal procurement. (Newswire)