No-confidence motion against Energy Minister to be submitted to Speaker tomorrow

A no-confidence motion against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody will be submitted to the Speaker of Parliament tomorrow, November 19. The motion has been signed by 17 opposition Members of Parliament, including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. It accuses the Energy Minister of not fulfilling his main responsibility to secure enough quality coal for the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai. The opposition believes this failure shows serious negligence in managing an important national energy resource, which is a significant breach of a minister's duties. Additionally, they highlight that the Minister of Energy has been charged in the Colombo High Court by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). This charge is based on Section 70 of the Bribery Act for engaging in an "act of corruption" while he was the Procurement Manager at the Ceylon Fertilizer Company Limited.