Piyankara Jayaratne
State Minister of Law and Order and Prison Reforms · Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)
Overview
- Status
- SERVING SENTENCE
- Current 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
- Sentence
- 7 years (confirmed total across 1 matter)
- Next Hearing
- Not publicly confirmed
- Last Verified
- 2 September 2026
The short version
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. None further - trial concluded; no appeal reported as of 5 Sept 2026 (4 days post-sentencing).
How did we get here?
- UpcomingCase 2
Next Step Pending
HCB/353/2025, HCB/354/2025, HCB/355/2025 - pre-trial document-examination stage
Court: Colombo High Court
Sources (2)
- UpcomingCase 3
Next Step Pending
Arrested and released on bail 21 Aug 2017; current disposition not found in available reporting
Court: Not specified in available sources
Sources (1)
- UpcomingCase 4
Next Step Pending
Summoned with Mahinda Rajapaksa to CIABOC on 12 May 2026 for questioning
Court: CIABOC investigation (no court filing found yet)
Sources (1)
- 1 September 2026Case 1
Convicted — 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.
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
Court: Colombo High Court (Judge Mohamed Mihail)
Court cases
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
- Not publicly confirmed
Case HCB/353/2025 - unauthorized printing of Vesak cards via the Civil Aviation Authority (Rs. 128,520 loss); 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
What’s happened
HCB/353/2025, HCB/354/2025, HCB/355/2025 - pre-trial document-examination stage
- Court
- Colombo High Court
- Next hearing / due
- HCB/353/2025, HCB/354/2025, HCB/355/2025 - pre-trial document-examination stage
Sources (2)
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; current disposition not found in available reporting
- Court
- Not specified in available sources
- Next hearing / due
- Arrested and released on bail 21 Aug 2017; current disposition not found in available reporting
Sources (1)
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 yet)
- Next hearing / due
- Summoned with Mahinda Rajapaksa to CIABOC on 12 May 2026 for questioning
Sources (1)
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–?
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
State Minister for Law & Order/Prison Reforms and for Provincial Councils
Dates not publicly confirmed
Other political positions
Deputy Speaker of Parliament
2008–2010
Deputy Speaker of Parliament
2010–2010
Member of Parliament for Puttalam District
Dates not publicly confirmed
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.