Thu May 29 21:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Sri Lankan Ex-Ministers Jailed in Landmark Corruption Case
**Colombo – May 30, 2025:** A Sri Lankan court on Thursday sentenced two former ministers from the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government to lengthy prison terms in a landmark corruption case. The Colombo High Court found former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Trade Minister Anil Fernando guilty of misappropriating 53 million rupees ($177,000) of state funds.
Aluthgamage received a 20-year sentence, while Fernando was sentenced to 25 years. In addition to their prison terms, both men were fined $2,000.
The charges stemmed from the misuse of government funds to purchase and distribute board games, including 14,000 carrom boards and 11,000 draughts sets, during the failed 2015 re-election campaign of Mahinda Rajapaksa, the elder brother of Gotabaya.
This marks the most significant successful prosecution of a high-ranking member of a Rajapaksa-led cabinet for corruption. The investigation into the case began six years ago, while the Rajapaksas were out of power. Progress had been slow until a new government took office last year.
Aluthgamage also faces a separate investigation concerning a $6.09 million payment authorized in 2022 to a Chinese supplier for a fertilizer shipment that was never delivered.
In a controversial episode in 2020, Aluthgamage alleged that the Sri Lankan national cricket team had fixed the 2011 World Cup final in favor of India. This accusation led to an investigation, which ultimately failed to find any supporting evidence. He claimed to have held back from reporting it earlier and added that he did not want to implicate players, but certain sections were involved.
The 2011 World Cup final saw Sri Lanka lose to India by six wickets at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. Both Indian and Sri Lankan players have strongly denied any wrongdoing.
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