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Sarana Gunawardena

Sarana Gunawardena

Deputy/State Minister of Petroleum Industries · Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)

SERVING SENTENCELast verified 9 June 2026

Overview

Status
SERVING SENTENCE
Current Case
Corruption prosecutions arising from Development Lotteries Board vehicle-rental payments during 2006-2007. Validation research found 18 convictions across four corruption cases, rather than only four counts.
Sentence
19 years (confirmed total across 2 matters)
Appeal
4 appeal petitions filed to the Court of Appeal (approx. 1 Jul 2026) seeking acquittal
Next Hearing
4 appeal petitions filed to the Court of Appeal (approx. 1 Jul 2026) seeking acquittal
Last Verified
9 June 2026

The short version

Sarana Gunawardena is currently serving 18 convictions across four corruption cases. Four years per guilty charge nominally produced 72 years; terms within each case run concurrently, while the four effective four-year case sentences run consecutively, producing an effective 16-year term. Rs.100,000 fine per conviction (Rs.1.8m total). following a 2026 conviction. Corruption prosecutions arising from Development Lotteries Board vehicle-rental payments during 2006-2007. Validation research found 18 convictions across four corruption cases, rather than only four counts. 4 appeal petitions filed to the Court of Appeal (approx. 1 Jul 2026) seeking acquittal.

How did we get here?

  1. UpcomingCase 1

    Next Step Pending

    Appeal to Colombo High Court; released on Rs. 300,000 bail pending appeal

    Court: Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court (trial); Colombo High Court (appeal)

    Sources (2)
  2. UpcomingCase 3

    Next Step Pending

    4 appeal petitions filed to the Court of Appeal (approx. 1 Jul 2026) seeking acquittal

    Court: Colombo High Court (trial); Court of Appeal (appeal)

    Sources (5)
  3. UpcomingCase 4

    Next Step Pending

    Colombo High Court discharged the matter on a preliminary objection; CIABOC filed revision on 21 Aug 2024 and Court of Appeal issued notice on 29 Aug 2024.

    Court: Colombo High Court; Court of Appeal

    Sources (1)
  4. 9 June 2026Case 3

    Convicted — 18 convictions across four corruption cases. Four years per guilty charge nominally produced 72 years; terms within each case run concurrently, while the four effective four-year case sentences run consecutively, producing an effective 16-year term. Rs.100,000 fine per conviction (Rs.1.8m total).

    Corruption prosecutions arising from Development Lotteries Board vehicle-rental payments during 2006-2007. Validation research found 18 convictions across four corruption cases, rather than only four counts.

    Court: Colombo High Court (trial); Court of Appeal (appeal)

    Sources (5)
  5. 8 January 2020Case 1

    Convicted — 1 year rigorous imprisonment per charge (3 years total) + Rs. 300,000 fine

    Causing loss to government / misappropriation under the Public Property Act - leasing 3 vehicles at Rs. 960,000 (vs. an assessed value of Rs. 635,000) while Chairman of the Development Lotteries Board; CIABOC's own record frames it as "influencing officers to rent vehicles from his wife"

    Court: Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court (trial); Colombo High Court (appeal)

    Sources (2)