COLOMBO – In a landmark ruling on May 29, 2025, a Sri Lankan court sentenced two former ministers from the administration of ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to lengthy prison terms over a corruption case involving the misappropriation of state funds.
The Colombo High Court found former sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and ex-trade minister Anil Fernando guilty of embezzling 53 million Sri Lankan rupees (approximately $177,000). Both were also fined $2,000 for using government money to purchase and distribute board games—including 14,000 carrom boards and 11,000 draughts sets—as part of an effort to support the 2015 re-election campaign of Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabaya’s elder brother, which ultimately failed.
Aluthgamage received a 20-year prison sentence, while Fernando was sentenced to 25 years behind bars. This verdict marks the most significant conviction of a Rajapaksa-led cabinet member on corruption charges to date.
The investigation began six years ago after the Rajapaksa brothers lost power, but the case gained momentum only after the new government assumed office last year.
Additionally, Aluthgamage is under separate scrutiny over allegations that in 2022 he authorized a payment of $6.09 million to a Chinese supplier for fertilizer that was never delivered.
Aluthgamage previously sparked controversy in 2020 when he accused Sri Lanka’s national cricket team of deliberately losing the 2011 World Cup final to India, an allegation that prompted an official inquiry but was ultimately unproven. At the time, he stated, "In 2011, we were supposed to win, but we sold the match. I feel I can talk about it now. I am not implicating players, but certain sections were involved." Sri Lanka lost the final by six wickets at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. Both Indian and Sri Lankan players have strongly denied these claims.
