Mahindananda Aluthgamage
Government Spokesperson · Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)
Overview
- Status
- SERVING SENTENCE
- Current Case
- Offense under Section 70 of the Bribery Act - causing the government a loss of over Rs. 53 million via irregular importation/procurement of approx. 14,000 carrom boards and approx. 11,000-14,000 checkers ("daam") boards through state-owned Lanka Sathosa/CWE for distribution during the 2015 presidential election campaign
- Sentence
- 20 years (confirmed total across 1 matter)
- Appeal
- Supreme Court appeal against High Court Trial-at-Bar conviction/sentence (Case No. HC/PTB/2/2/2019); oral arguments concluded 11 Mar 2026, judgment reserved
- Next Hearing
- Supreme Court appeal against High Court Trial-at-Bar conviction/sentence (Case No. HC/PTB/2/2/2019); oral arguments concluded 11 Mar 2026, judgment reserved
- Last Verified
- 27 August 2026
The short version
Mahindananda Aluthgamage is currently serving 20 years rigorous imprisonment; official CIABOC also reports a Rs.100,000 fine per count (aggregate fine not calculated here without confirmed count structure). following a 2025 conviction. Offense under Section 70 of the Bribery Act - causing the government a loss of over Rs. 53 million via irregular importation/procurement of approx. 14,000 carrom boards and approx. 11,000-14,000 checkers ("daam") boards through state-owned Lanka Sathosa/CWE for distribution during the 2015 presidential election campaign. Supreme Court appeal against High Court Trial-at-Bar conviction/sentence (Case No. HC/PTB/2/2/2019); oral arguments concluded 11 Mar 2026, judgment reserved.
How did we get here?
- UpcomingCase 1
Judgment Reserved
Supreme Court appeal against High Court Trial-at-Bar conviction/sentence (Case No. HC/PTB/2/2/2019); oral arguments concluded 11 Mar 2026, judgment reserved
Court: High Court Permanent Trial-at-Bar, Colombo (trial); Supreme Court of Sri Lanka (appeal)
- UpcomingCase 2
Next Step Pending
CIABOC investigation into the fertilizer import deal; arrest warrant approx. 16 May 2025, surrendered/appeared 19-20 May 2025, remanded to 26 May 2025, granted bail same day; no indictment or trial date found yet
Court: Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court
- 29 May 2025Case 1
Convicted — 20 years rigorous imprisonment; official CIABOC also reports a Rs.100,000 fine per count (aggregate fine not calculated here without confirmed count structure).
Offense under Section 70 of the Bribery Act - causing the government a loss of over Rs. 53 million via irregular importation/procurement of approx. 14,000 carrom boards and approx. 11,000-14,000 checkers ("daam") boards through state-owned Lanka Sathosa/CWE for distribution during the 2015 presidential election campaign
Court: High Court Permanent Trial-at-Bar, Colombo (trial); Supreme Court of Sri Lanka (appeal)
Court cases
Offense under Section 70 of the Bribery Act - causing the government a loss of over Rs. 53 million via irregular importation/procurement of approx. 14,000 carrom boards and approx. 11,000-14,000 checkers ("daam") boards through state-owned Lanka Sathosa/CWE for distribution during the 2015 presidential election campaign
What’s happened
Supreme Court appeal against High Court Trial-at-Bar conviction/sentence (Case No. HC/PTB/2/2/2019); oral arguments concluded 11 Mar 2026, judgment reserved
- Court
- High Court Permanent Trial-at-Bar, Colombo (trial); Supreme Court of Sri Lanka (appeal)
- Sentence
- 20 years rigorous imprisonment; official CIABOC also reports a Rs.100,000 fine per count (aggregate fine not calculated here without confirmed count structure).
- Next hearing / due
- Supreme Court appeal against High Court Trial-at-Bar conviction/sentence (Case No. HC/PTB/2/2/2019); oral arguments concluded 11 Mar 2026, judgment reserved
CIABOC named him a suspect over alleged irregular payments/facilitation connected to a 2021 shipment of substandard organic fertilizer imported from Qingdao Seawin Biotech (China); no specific statutory charge/section has been publicly stated yet - flagged as vague pending formal indictment
What’s happened
CIABOC investigation into the fertilizer import deal; arrest warrant approx. 16 May 2025, surrendered/appeared 19-20 May 2025, remanded to 26 May 2025, granted bail same day; no indictment or trial date found yet
- Court
- Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court
- Next hearing / due
- CIABOC investigation into the fertilizer import deal; arrest warrant approx. 16 May 2025, surrendered/appeared 19-20 May 2025, remanded to 26 May 2025, granted bail same day; no indictment or trial date found yet
Political career
Ministerial positions
Deputy Minister of Highways
2000–2001
Deputy Minister of Power and Energy
2004–2005
Deputy Minister of Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation
2005–2005
Deputy Minister of Power and Energy
2005–2007
Minister of Power and Energy
2007–2010
Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs
2010–2010
Minister of Sports
2010–2015
State Minister of Power and Energy
2019–2020
State Minister of Renewable Energy/Power
2020–?
State Minister of Renewable Energy and Power
2020–2020
Minister of Agriculture
2020–2022
Other political positions
Member of Parliament for Kandy District
2000–2024
Government Spokesperson
2020–?
Party history
Long-standing SLFP membership is well established. In December 2018 he said he and other Rajapaksa-aligned MPs had not withdrawn from or been expelled from the SLFP and continued paying membership fees.
Sources (2)
Contemporary reports said he obtained SLPP membership on 11 Nov 2018, but his own 19 Dec 2018 statement said SLFP membership had not ended. SLPP electoral affiliation is definite by 2020; the formal crossover date remains unresolved.