Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister, Kumara Jayakody, resigned from his position on Friday (April 17, 2026) amid mounting opposition over serious allegations of corruption and substandard coal procurement. This resignation came as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake appointed a commission to probe irregularities in coal imports to Sri Lanka.

A statement from the President’s office said the Minister, along with the Secretary to the Ministry, resigned to “facilitate an impartial and independent investigation to be conducted by the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry”.