Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody resigns

Colombo, April 17 (Daily Mirror)- Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and Ministry Secretary Professor Udayanga Hemapala tendered their resignations this afternoon to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the President's Media Division  (PMD) said.

The PMD said they resigned to facilitate an impartial and independent investigation to be conducted by the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the coal import process.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today appointed a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate whether any irregularities or unlawful activities had taken place in relation to the importation of coal and the generation of electricity, the PMD said.

The PMD said in a statement that they resigned from their respective positions in support of the impartial and independent process of this Commission.

In his resignation letter submitted to the President, the Minister of Energy, Kumara Jayakody, stated  that he highly appreciates the President’s firm commitment and courageous determination to combat corruption and uphold the public mandate, as demonstrated through the decision to appoint a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry into coal supply, as well as the complaint submitted by the Secretary to the President to the Criminal Investigation Department requesting a formal investigation into coal imports since 2009, the PMD said.

"The Minister further stated that he believes the forthcoming investigations should be conducted in a fully independent and impartial manner, without any form of bias. He also expressed the view that his continued presence in office during the course of the investigation could be perceived as an impediment to that process. On this basis, he stated that he will resign from his role as the Minister from April 17.

In his letter, the Secretary to the Ministry of Energy, Professor Udayanga Hemapala, stated that he believes it is appropriate to resign from his position in order to facilitate the forthcoming investigations and to ensure that the independence of the inquiry is fully safeguarded, without any obstruction to the process, the PMD said.