Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa has sharply criticized the resignation of Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, calling it “a bit too late” in the wake of the massive coal procurement scandal.
Rajapaksa noted that Parliament had already spent an entire day debating a No Confidence Motion against Jayakody, only for all National People’s Power (NPP) MPs to vote against it.
He argued that this amounted to ignoring and effectively supporting the corruption allegations tied to the coal deal, which has cost the country millions of rupees.
“The Minister’s resignation does not cover up or compensate the people for the money already lost. Ultimately, it is the consumer who bears the brunt of this massive scam,” Rajapaksa said in a statement posted on X.
He further questioned whether President Anura Kumara Dissanayake would take responsibility for appointing Jayakody to such a powerful portfolio despite his history of corruption allegations.
Rajapaksa pointed out that the President continued to defend Jayakody even after the Board of Inquiry (BoI) commenced a probe into the scandal.
“The President should be held directly responsible for the coal scam, which has cost consumers heavily, as he protected Jayakody for over a year, even after the scandal was exposed,” Rajapaksa asserted.
Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody tendered his resignation yesterday (17) to allow a transparent investigation into the substandard coal imports by a special Presidential Commission appointed by the President. (Newswire)