Double whammy for Kumara Jayakody

Corruption allegations, concept of court charges await him

20 August 2025 04:29 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 23 Bookmark

A A A

Colombo, August 20 (Daily Mirror) - In a shocking turn of events, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been pushed into an uncomfortable spot with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery Or Corruption (CIABOC) preparing to file action against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody over allegations of misappropriation of funds during his tenure at the Fertliser Corporation in 2015.

To make matters worse, a group of opposition politicians and civil society activists are also preparing to file a contempt of court case against Jayakody for a remark he made against a judge in a recent interview he did with a private television channel. If found guilty in either case, Jayakody could face serious charges.

Minister Jayakody is a man very close to President Dissanayake and he is considered one of the President's closest friends for many years. In fact, he was introduced to the Fertiliser Corporation by Anura Kumara Dissanayake when Dissanayake was the Minister of Agriculture in the UPFA government under Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

Since then Jayakody and Dissanayake have shared a strong bond and Jayakody played a strong role in Dissanayake's campaign prior to the Presidential Election.Now, with allegations surfacing that he may have misappropriated funds worth Rs. 8 million while heading the Fertiliser Corporation in 2015, President Dissanayake has been informed by some of his close confidantes that it will be better if Jayakody steps down.

To immediately save face, the Daily Mirror learns while Jayakody has not been asked to step down as of now by the President, Dissanayake will await the update of the court's verdict.

However in his weekly meetings with senior NPP Cabinet ministers, President Dissanayake has already been advised it will be better if Jayakody willingly steps down while the investigation is ongoing.

Several attempts to contact Jayakody yesterday for a comment failed but a source close to him said that there were no plans for the Minister to tender his resignation.

The opposition themselves will not spare this matter when Parliament convenes this week. The Daily Mirror learns that ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam will call for the resignation of Jayakody or else question the government how a minister who is facing corruption allegations can continue to hold a portfolio.

Rasamanickam had six months ago already mentioned in Parliament that an individual who had been interdicted over a financial fraud in the Fertilizer Corporation was now a member of the NPP cabinet.