Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody is set to face trial after the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption confirmed plans to file a case against him. The charges stem from tender fraud allegations linked to his tenure at the Fertilizer Corporation in 2015, where he is accused of misappropriating Rs. 8 million.
The case will be filed before the High Court against the minister and two other individuals. The Bribery Commission launched fresh proceedings after reviewing complaints that questioned irregularities in the payment procedures of the contested tender.
At the time, Jayakody served as head of the tender board that granted approval for the transaction under scrutiny. Investigators believe the procedures used in clearing payments raised serious doubts over transparency and compliance, prompting renewed inquiries. The probe has now been strengthened by earlier findings regarding the misuse of funds, which the commission has revived to build the current case.
With this move, Jayakody becomes the first minister in the present government to face direct corruption allegations. The charges place him under a cloud of suspicion at a time when public calls for accountability and anti-corruption reform are intensifying.
The matter had already drawn attention in Parliament when Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanikkam questioned how a figure previously suspended over financial fraud at the Fertilizer Corporation could now hold office in the National People’s Party (NPP) cabinet. His remarks sparked wider criticism over the government’s commitment to good governance.
The Bribery Commission’s decision follows a broader pattern of legal action against ministers accused of corruption in previous governments. However, this latest development signals that the commission is prepared to scrutinize figures in the current administration as well, escalating pressure on the NPP to defend its reputation for transparency.
The High Court case, once filed, is expected to intensify political debate and public scrutiny as Jayakody faces the prospect of becoming a test case for the government’s stated zero-tolerance stance on corruption.
