NCM against Energy Minister defeated with a majority in Parliament

Saturday, 11 April 2026 04:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody was defeated in Parliament yesterday, by a majority of 104 votes.

During the vote, 153 MPs voted against, and 49 MPs voted in favour of the NCM.

The no-confidence motion against Minister Jayakody was presented to Parliament yesterday by SJB MP Ajith P. Perera, citing alleged irregularities in coal procurement and indictments filed before the Colombo High Court.

Earlier this month, submitting the NCM to the Speaker of Parliament, the opposition alleged that the Energy Minister has failed to discharge his primary duty to ensure the procurement of sufficient and quality coal for the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai, and that such gross negligence in overseeing a critical national energy asset constitutes a fundamental breach of the responsibility of a Minister.

They also pointed out that the Energy Minister has been formally charged before the Colombo High Court by the Bribery Commission for allegedly committing an ‘‘act of corruption’‘ while serving as the Procurement Manager of the Ceylon Fertiliser Company Ltd.