No-confidence motion against Kumara Jayakody and NPP’s double standards

Today is an eventful day for the National People’s Power (NPP) administration, as it faces the first No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against a Cabinet Minister since coming into power in late 2024. Ironically, the NCM - which is moved against Power and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody – contains allegations of corruption although fighting corruption was the main campaign theme of the NPP-led political alliance during the previous national election cycle. 

The opposition had accused Jayakody of failing to discharge his primary duty to ensure the procurement of sufficient and quality coal for Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai. Procurement of substandard coal poses a grave risk to the country’s energy sector and President Dissanayake yesterday acknowledged the import of substandard coal had adversely impacted electricity generation while pointing out that electricity generation costs too would increase due to the blunder by the Lanka Coal Company (LCC) as well as the Ministry of Power and Energy.

Accusations of favouritism and irregularities were directed against the Ministry in relation to the contentious coal procurement, and the critics alleged amendments were made to the bidding documents before the tender was issued to benefit favoured suppliers. In August 2025, LCC Chairman A.S.D. Perera resigned amidst allegations of serious irregularities in the tender process for coal procurement. In his resignation letter, Perera had claimed that neither him nor the Board of Directors of the LCC could be held responsible for any consequences arising from coal tender procedures as all major decisions were made by the Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy and his team.

Meanwhile, the indictment of Jayakody by the Colombo High Court regarding his alleged involvement in corruption during his employment at Ceylon Fertiliser Company (CFC) has seriously undermined his credibility apart from concerns over the appropriateness of his continuity in the Cabinet of Ministers. He is accused of causing a loss of Rs. 8,859,708 to the State by influencing a procurement process related to carpeting CFC’s Hunupitiya warehouse complex in order to benefit a private company during 2016 while serving as the Manager of the Procurement and Import Division of the said company.

The Power and Energy Minister is a close associate of the President and the former had secured employment at CFC when the latter was Minister of Agriculture during the final years of Chandrika Kumaratunge presidency. Jayakody’s son is actively engaged with the Presidential Media Division, and it is apparent that the National List MP enjoys a huge clout among the NPP ranks.

Already, good governance activists have called for the resignation of Jayakody from the ministerial position in the wake of the indictment against the latter. The NPP secured its mandate in 2024 on the promise of a change in the system of governance and to dismantle the culture of corruption and impunity with a commitment towards accountable and transparent governance. The Government has seemingly taken the stance that Jayakody does not need to resign as the indictment relates to an act which had taken before he entered the Parliament. However, such a view is not consistent with the typical anti-corruption rhetoric associated with the JVP/NPP and their frequently emphasised commitment towards changing the rotten system of governance. It might be recalled that when the SJB initiated a NCM against the then Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella over his alleged role in importing low-quality drugs, the NPP vociferously supported the motion and demanded the resignation of the accused Health Minister.

As the Daily FT has stressed on many occasions, corruption cannot be wiped out by using it as a political slogan to deride political opponents. Rather it can only be addressed by taking meaningful actions devoid of political agendas. The Government’s moves to defend Jayakody in spite of serious and grave allegations against him would undoubtedly undermine its credibility and reputation.