Double whammy for Kumara Jayakody

• President Dissanayake has been informed by some of his close confidantes that it will be better if Jayakody steps down

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 Fertiliser Corporation was now a member of the NPP cabinet.