Although a report issued by the Auditor General’s Department has revealed multiple irregularities in coal imports and indicated that the coal is of low quality, it is reported that the President’s party has decided not to remove Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody—who has been directly accused in connection with the transaction—from his position. Sri Lanka Latest News
Following the publication of the Auditor General’s report on coal imports last Tuesday, the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), along with other opposition parties, civil organizations, and professionals, has come under strong pressure to the government, urging that Minister Kumara Jayakody be immediately removed from his ministerial post.
In particular, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who initially brought the alleged coal scam to public attention, together with SJB MPs, has emphasized in Parliament and outside that the government, which came to power promising to eliminate fraud and corruption, must remove Minister Kumara Jayakody in order to safeguard its credibility.
In addition to the opposition, the JVP faction based in Pelawatte has also informed the President that continued protection of Kumara Jayakody could lead to the government becoming unpopular among the public.
Despite this backdrop, information obtained by the ‘Mawrata’ newspaper indicates that the President and those close to him have decided to continue backing Minister Kumara Jayakody.
Meanwhile, opposition groups have now decided to file a court case against Minister Kumara Jayakody based on the findings of the audit report.
It is also reported that other parliamentary parties, including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, as well as several non-parliamentary political groups, have referred the matter to their legal teams for further action.
In addition, the Bribery Commission has also taken steps to file an indictment against Minister Kumara Jayakody before the High Court in connection with an incident that occurred in 2015.
