Kumar Jayakody

Kumara Jayakody, the former Energy Minister of Sri Lanka, faces an ongoing corruption trial initiated by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. The charges relate to his 2016 tenure as Manager of the Procurement and Import Division at the Ceylon Fertilizer Company. He is accused of influencing a procurement process to benefit a private company for carpeting work, resulting in a reported state loss of approximately Rs. 8.8 million. Jayakody was served indictments on March 27, 2026, and released on bail. During a pre-trial conference, he admitted to his role at the company and on its procurement committee. The trial is scheduled to commence on June 17, 2026. Additionally, Jayakody was involved in controversies regarding the 2025–2026 coal procurement process. Following a special audit report and allegations of irregularities, he resigned from his ministerial post on April 17, 2026, to facilitate an independent investigation by a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry. He previously survived a no-confidence motion on April 10, 2026.