Sri Lanka’s ongoing crackdown on corruption took a significant step forward this week as a former deputy minister from the powerful Rajapaksa-era administration was sentenced to 16 years in prison for graft-related offences. The conviction of Sarana Gunawardena marks another high-profile case in the government’s efforts to address allegations of widespread corruption that many citizens believe contributed to the country’s devastating economic crisis.
The Colombo High Court sentenced Gunawardena, who served as a junior minister under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, after finding him guilty on four separate corruption charges. The court imposed four years of imprisonment for each count, ordering the sentences to run consecutively, resulting in a total prison term of 16 years. In addition to the jail sentence, the court fined him 1.8 million Sri Lankan rupees.
According to prosecutors, Gunawardena was involved in financial misconduct linked to government procurement and rental agreements nearly two decades ago. Investigators alleged that he received kickbacks from suppliers after authorizing inflated payments totaling 11.5 million rupees for the rental of vehicles and buildings. The court concluded that the offences represented a serious abuse of public office and rejected appeals from the defence seeking a more lenient sentence.
In delivering its decision, the court emphasized the need for strong penalties to deter corruption within public institutions. Judicial officials stated that corruption involving public funds undermines public trust and weakens governance, making stringent punishment necessary to discourage similar offences in the future.
Gunawardena is the latest former member of the Rajapaksa administration to face imprisonment as Sri Lanka expands its anti-corruption campaign. Earlier, former ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Nalin Fernando were handed prison terms ranging between 20 and 25 years in separate corruption-related cases. The convictions signal an increasingly aggressive approach by authorities toward alleged wrongdoing among former political leaders and government officials.
The anti-corruption drive has gained momentum under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, whose leftist administration came to power amid widespread public frustration following Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis in decades. His government has pledged to strengthen transparency and accountability, while expanding the powers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.
Public anger over corruption played a central role in the mass protests that swept across Sri Lanka in 2022. Demonstrators accused the Rajapaksa family and their allies of economic mismanagement, cronyism, and misuse of public resources. The unrest ultimately forced then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and resign, bringing an end to the family’s long-standing dominance over Sri Lankan politics.
The government’s anti-graft efforts are also closely linked to Sri Lanka’s broader economic recovery strategy. The country secured a US$2.9 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which includes requirements for governance reforms, stronger financial oversight, and enhanced measures to combat corruption. International lenders and development partners have repeatedly stressed that improving institutional integrity is essential for restoring investor confidence and ensuring long-term economic stability.
Beyond corruption investigations, Sri Lankan authorities have intensified scrutiny of several politically sensitive criminal cases involving former officials. Last week, a court imposed a foreign travel ban on former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as part of an ongoing investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist bombings that killed 279 people. The attacks remain one of the most traumatic events in the country’s recent history and continue to generate political controversy.
In a related development, former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay remains in custody over allegations that he helped orchestrate the attacks to create political instability and facilitate Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s return to power. Sallay has strongly denied the accusations.
The conviction of Sarana Gunawardena underscores Sri Lanka’s determination to hold former public officials accountable and reflects a broader effort to rebuild public trust in government institutions. As investigations continue and additional cases move through the courts, the country’s anti-corruption campaign is likely to remain a defining feature of its political and economic reform agenda.
By Jaideep Mehta, Guest Contributor
Managing Director, RZOLUT
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