Entire Cabinet Must Resign: Prof. G.L. Peiris

24-Apr-2026

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Former Minister Professor G.L. Peiris said that in the substandard coal procurement scandal, the blame cannot be placed solely on the minister, as the entire government and Cabinet share responsibility. He called on the full Cabinet to resign immediately in respect of the country’s laws, traditions, and obligations to the people.

He made these remarks at a joint opposition media briefing held on April 23 at former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s political office in Colombo.

Prof. Peiris said the government cannot escape responsibility by sacrificing only one minister, describing the incident as a major organised fraud. He argued that the minister alone lacked the authority and capacity to execute such actions independently, and that the fraud could only have proceeded with full government support.

He pointed out that the company awarded the contract was not even a properly registered entity and had no prior experience in coal supply. Therefore, he said it is unjust to hold only the minister accountable.

He further stated that the contract was signed without approval from the Attorney General, despite being a transaction directly involving public funds. Such a step could not have been taken without the government’s backing.

He also questioned the credibility of the laboratory selected for coal quality testing, stating it lacked qualifications and that its certificate was worthless. He said the government cannot approve such processes and later shift full responsibility onto the minister alone.

He claimed all 12 coal shipments brought under the government were of poor quality. He noted that under the original agreement, the government had the full right to reject the substandard coal, but deliberately failed to do so, indicating collective responsibility.

Prof. Peiris stated that the scale of the fraud exceeds the Central Bank bond scam by more than three times. He said the minister was merely a tool and that the government as a whole must accept responsibility.

He cited the constitutional principle of collective Cabinet responsibility and a Supreme Court ruling based on public trust. He stressed that the minister’s resignation alone cannot resolve the matter, and only the resignation of the entire Cabinet would mark its conclusion.

He warned that if this is not done, taking legal action would become the duty of a future government.