The Colombo High Court postponed further proceedings in the corruption case against former Power and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody to October 5, 2026. Testimony revealed alleged misuse of a procurement process in 2014 that resulted in a loss of over Rs. 8.8 million to the government.
The Colombo High Court heard evidence today in a corruption case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against former Power and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, with Judge Rashantha Godawela ordering that further examination be resumed on October 5.
Testifying under questioning from CIABOC Assistant Director General Asitha Anthony, former Lanka Fertiliser Company Chairman Buddhika Ruwan Madihahewa described a 2014 procurement process to select a contractor for carpeting roads at the company's Hunupitiya warehouse complex. Jayakody served as Procurement Manager at the time. According to the witness, contractor D.S. Construction was selected and paid Rs. 8,859,708 as an advance under a performance bond. Madihahewa stated he approved the payment after reviewing documentation from the Procurement and Finance Divisions that indicated proper procedures had been followed.
However, Madihahewa acknowledged that the carpeting work was never completed. Raw materials, including stones brought for the project, remained on company premises. Only Rs. 2,214,921 was subsequently recovered under the performance bond, leaving a shortfall of approximately Rs. 6.6 million. The CIABOC alleges that Jayakody caused this loss to the government by conducting the procurement in a manner that gave undue benefit to the private contractor.
A legal officer from the National Audit Office also provided evidence during the hearing. The case will resume on October 5 for continued examination of evidence.