Piyankara Jayaratne
Former State Minister and former Member of Parliament · Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)
4
Legal matters
1
Investigations
1
Charges pending
1
Acquitted / dismissed
1 matter convicted or under appeal — see the Cases tab for the breakdown.
Next in court
Not publicly confirmed
Piyankara Jayaratne is currently serving Two separate seven-year rigorous-imprisonment terms, ordered to run concurrently; effective term seven years. Rs.100,000 fine per charge (Rs.200,000 total), with six months default RI for each unpaid fine. following a 2026 conviction.
Corruption/abuse of ministerial office - pressuring a SriLankan Catering executive to release funds (reported as Rs. 320,000-330,000, figures vary by outlet) to a private caterer in Marawila for a May Day 2014 UPFA rally.
The full running account, event by event, is in the Timeline and Court Cases tabs below.
Piyankara Jayaratne legal timeline
- 12 October 2026Civil Aviation Authority spending cases
Hearing
The Colombo High Court fixed further hearing of HCB/353/2025 (the Vesak greeting card matter) for 12 October 2026, and permitted CIABOC to add an investigating officer as a prosecution witness in that case.
Court: Colombo High Court
Sources (2)
- 11 September 2026Civil Aviation Authority spending cases
Hearing
HCB/353/2025 was called again before Judge Rashantha Godawela. Jayaratne, who is already in prison on his conviction in a separate case (piyankara-jayaratne-01), was produced by prison officers. CIABOC was granted leave to add an investigating officer as a prosecution witness, and the hearing was fixed for 12 October 2026.
Court: Colombo High Court
Sources (1)
- 1 September 2026SriLankan Catering May Day payment corru…
Convicted
The Colombo High Court (Judge Mohamed Mihail) convicted Piyankara Jayaratne on two charges under the Bribery Act relating to SriLankan Catering funds spent on food for supporters at the 2014 May Day parade. He was sentenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment on each charge, to run concurrently, and fined Rs. 100,000 on each charge with six months' rigorous imprisonment in default of each fine.
Court: Colombo High Court (Judge Mohamed Mihail)
- 1 September 2026Civil Aviation Authority spending cases
Hearing
Colombo High Court (Judge Rashantha Godawela) heard testimony from prosecution witness no. 11 in HCB/353/2025 (the Vesak greeting card matter), ordered Jayaratne to reappear, and directed CIABOC to submit all evidence reports it had obtained. Further CIABOC submissions were fixed for 11 September 2026.
Court: Colombo High Court
Sources (1)
- 12 May 2026SriLankan Airlines Airbus bribery invest…
Summoned
Summoned with Mahinda Rajapaksa to CIABOC on 12 May 2026 for questioning.
Court: CIABOC investigation (no court filing found yet)
Sources (1)
- 11 July 2023Civil Aviation Authority private secreta…
Discharged
The Bribery Commission withdrew the five charges (Bribery Act s.70) over the appointment of his private secretary at the Civil Aviation Authority, and the Colombo Chief Magistrate released Jayaratne and the secretary. The Chief Magistrate noted the release does not prevent a fresh case being filed. 'Discharged' is the closest event type; this was a prosecution withdrawal, not an acquittal.
Court: Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court
Sources (1)
- 21 August 2017Civil Aviation Authority private secreta…
Bail Granted
Piyankara Jayaratne and his private secretary were released on bail on 21 Aug 2017, after being arrested over the alleged unlawful appointment of the secretary to the Civil Aviation Authority. The arrest date is not given in the source.
Court: Not specified in available sources
Sources (1)
Piyankara Jayaratne court cases
4
Cases Total
1
Under Investigation
1
Trial Ongoing
1
Convicted
1
Case Dismissed
SriLankan Catering May Day payment corruption case
Corruption/abuse of ministerial office - pressuring a SriLankan Catering executive to release funds (reported as Rs. 320,000-330,000, figures vary by outlet) to a private caterer in Marawila for a May Day 2014 UPFA rally
What’s happened
None further - trial concluded; no appeal reported as of 5 Sept 2026 (4 days post-sentencing)
- Court
- Colombo High Court (Judge Mohamed Mihail)
- Sentence
- Two separate seven-year rigorous-imprisonment terms, ordered to run concurrently; effective term seven years. Rs.100,000 fine per charge (Rs.200,000 total), with six months default RI for each unpaid fine.
- Next hearing / due
- No upcoming hearing announced
Civil Aviation Authority spending cases
Case HCB/353/2025 - unauthorized printing of 3,000 Vesak greeting cards via the Civil Aviation Authority (approx. Rs. 128,520 loss to the State); HCB/354/2025 - directing officials to pay Rs. 360,000 to Vee Hena Farm (Pvt) Ltd; HCB/355/2025 - directing deposit of Rs. 494,000 to an NSB account in Chilaw - all charged as "causing loss to the government" via ministerial office.
On 11 Sept 2026 the Colombo High Court fixed further hearing of HCB/353/2025 for 12 October 2026 and permitted CIABOC to add an investigating officer as a prosecution witness in that matter.
What’s happened
HCB/353/2025 - further hearing fixed for 12 October 2026; CIABOC permitted to add an investigating officer as a prosecution witness. HCB/354/2025, HCB/355/2025 - remain at pre-trial document-examination stage as of 5 Sept 2026, not separately updated by this report.
- Court
- Colombo High Court
- Next hearing / due
- Next hearing not confirmed
Civil Aviation Authority private secretary appointment case
Abuse of power/state funds via unlawful appointment of his private secretary to a Civil Aviation Authority post
What’s happened
Arrested and released on bail 21 Aug 2017. On 11 Jul 2023 the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court (Prasanna Alwis) released Jayaratne and his private secretary after the Bribery Commission withdrew the five charges (Bribery Act s.70) over the secretary's appointment at the Civil Aviation Authority; the Chief Magistrate noted the release does not bar a fresh case. No fresh case has been located.
- Court
- Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court
- Next hearing / due
- No upcoming hearing announced
Sources (2)
SriLankan Airlines Airbus bribery investigation
Alleged bribes in the SriLankan Airlines Airbus wide-body procurement deal (summoned for questioning, not yet formally charged)
What’s happened
Summoned with Mahinda Rajapaksa to CIABOC on 12 May 2026 for questioning
- Court
- CIABOC investigation (no court filing found; court supervision not confirmed)
- Next hearing / due
- Next hearing not confirmed
Sources (1)
Piyankara Jayaratne in the news
In the news
Stories in the news feed that name Piyankara Jayaratne, with every outlet’s report of each grouped together. These are other outlets’ reports; what they say is not Nadu’s verified record.
No stories naming Piyankara Jayaratne in the news right now. New reports appear here as outlets publish them.
Piyankara Jayaratne political career
Ministerial positions
Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs
2000–2001
Minister of Civil Aviation
2010–2015
State Minister of Law and Order and Prison Reforms
2015–2016
State Minister of Provincial Councils
2015–2017
State Minister of Indigenous Medicine
2019–2020
State Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Market Diversification
2020–2022
Other political positions
Deputy Speaker of Parliament
2008–2010
Deputy Speaker of Parliament
2010–2010
Former State Minister and former Member of Parliament
Dates not publicly confirmed
Member of Parliament for Puttalam District
Until 2024
Piyankara Jayaratne party history
Biographical records place him in the SLFP by 1998. Exact joining date not pinned down.
Listed among SLFP politicians reported to have obtained SLPP membership on 11 Nov 2018; later elected under SLPP. Because the wider 2018 crossover produced membership disputes, this date is retained as a reported event rather than an unquestioned legal switch.