Arjuna Ranatunga, former Sri Lankan World Cup-winning captain, to be arrested

Former Sri Lanka cricketer and ex-minister Arjuna Ranatunga is set to face arrest in a corruption probe linked to fuel закупments at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). Sri Lanka’s Bribery Commission told a court on Monday that Ranatunga has been named as a suspect in a case where the CPC allegedly suffered a loss of nearly Rs 800 million due to fuel purchases made at higher prices, according to Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka.

The Commission informed the Chief Magistrate’s Court that steps are under way to arrest Ranatunga and produce him before court. However, officials said this could not be done on Monday as he is currently overseas.

What the bribery commission told the court

As reported by Daily Mirror, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) made the submission through Assistant Director (Legal) Anusha Sammandapperuma. She appeared before court when former CPC Chairman Dhammika Ranatunga, who was arrested earlier on corruption charges, was produced.


She told the court that three long-term fuel tenders scheduled for 2017–2018 had been cancelled. Instead, the CPC later went ahead with spot tenders at higher prices. This decision, she said, allegedly caused a loss of nearly Rs. 800 million to the state-run corporation.

Who are the suspects in the case

According to the court submissions, Dhammika Ranatunga has been named as the first suspect in the case. Former Minister of Petroleum Resources Development Arjuna Ranatunga has been named as the second suspect.

Based on these allegations, Dhammika Ranatunga was arrested and produced before court, Daily Mirror reported. The Bribery Commission also informed the court that action is being taken to arrest both suspects.

Arrest delayed as Ranatunga is overseas

On the status of Arjuna Ranatunga’s arrest, Sammandapperuma told the court that he could not be arrested on Monday as he is currently out of the country. She sought the court’s intervention and requested an order to remand the suspect, citing that investigations into the incident are still ongoing.

Bail plea and court order

Daily Mirror further reported that President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris, appearing on behalf of the suspect, told the court that his client has been cooperating with investigators. He requested that the suspect be released on bail under suitable conditions in terms of the Bail Act.

After hearing both sides, the Chief Magistrate ordered the release of the suspect on two sureties of Rs. 1 million each. The court also imposed a foreign travel ban on the suspect, the report said.

(Source: ANI)