In a landmark ruling, the Western Province High Court has sentenced two former Sri Lankan ministers to lengthy prison terms for misappropriating public funds during the 2015 election period. The case centered on the misuse of state enterprise Lanka Sathosa’s funds for political gain.
Mahindananda Aluthgamage, the former Sports Minister, was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for his role in using over Rs. 53 million in public money to import and distribute carrom and checker boards to sports clubs across the country. The court found that the distribution was politically motivated and carried out during the run-up to the 2015 presidential election.
According to information, Lanka Sathosa had imported 14,000 carrom boards and 11,000 draft boards under the directive of Aluthgamage, and these were distributed to gain political favor.
Nalin Fernando, the former Trade Minister and then-chairman of Sathosa, received a 25-year prison sentence in the same case. The prosecution argued that both ministers had abused their official positions, causing a significant loss to the state and the public.
The case was filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), which maintained that the ministers’ actions were part of an orchestrated attempt to use public funds to influence voters. CIABOC’s counsel urged the court to impose a sentence that would serve as a deterrent to others and strengthen public trust in anti-corruption efforts.
A three-judge bench, after reviewing evidence and hearing from both the prosecution and defense, delivered the verdict today, marking one of the most high-profile convictions of political figures in recent years.
The ruling has been widely viewed as a strong message against corruption and a step forward in ensuring accountability among public officials in Sri Lanka.
