Sri Lanka Jails Former Ministers in Landmark Corruption Crackdown

In a significant anti-corruption ruling, two former Sri Lankan cabinet ministers were sentenced to lengthy prison terms by the Colombo High Court for misappropriating state funds linked to the 2015 presidential election.

Mahindananda Aluthgamage, who served as Sports Minister from 2010 to 2015, was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, while Nalin Fernando, former Trade Minister from 2022 to 2024, received a 25-year sentence. Both were found guilty of causing a loss of 53 million Sri Lankan rupees (approximately $177,000) to the government by purchasing and distributing thousands of carrom and draughts boards through a state agency. The court ruled these purchases were intended to influence voters and support the re-election bid of Mahinda Rajapaksa, the elder brother of then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The case, brought forward by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), marks one of the most high-profile convictions of political figures in recent years. The trial exposed how public funds were diverted for personal and political gain, undermining democratic processes.

Aluthgamage, a veteran politician with a three-decade career, announced his retirement from active politics following the verdict. He is the most senior member of the Rajapaksa-led government to be successfully prosecuted for corruption.

Separately, former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was arrested earlier this month on charges of corruption involving the unlawful receipt of salaries for staff he never employed, allegedly diverting over 8 million rupees for political purposes.

These developments come amid a broader crackdown on corruption by Sri Lanka’s current National People's Power government, which has pledged to revive stalled cases and hold former officials accountable. The crackdown has also targeted other former ministers and officials accused of bribery and financial fraud.

The convictions and arrests signal a new chapter in Sri Lanka’s efforts to combat entrenched corruption and restore public trust in governance.

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