Everyone in the files

INVESTIGATION

Janaka Nishantha Ratnayake, former Mayor of the Bandarawela Municipal Council, was arrested on 9 Sep 2026 during a police investigation into alleged financial fraud and forged documents at the municipal council. Three municipal council employees had previously been arrested in connection with the same alleged financial misconduct and document forgery. No specific statutory charge or finding of guilt has been reported.

INVESTIGATION

Ranil Wickremesinghe

UNP

Alleged misuse of more than Rs. 16.6 million in state funds for a September 2023 UK stopover (about 32 hours, on the way back from Cuba and the US) that investigators characterise as a private visit to attend an honorary-professorship ceremony for his wife, Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe, at the University of Wolverhampton. Former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake is the second suspect (aiding and abetting). The case is under the Offences Against Public Property Act. No indictment has been filed and there is no conviction.

INVESTIGATION

During an 18 September 2026 hearing in the separate Namal Rajapaksa CIABOC bribery case, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara presented the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court with a CD of a speech Weerawansa gave at an SLPP rally in Anuradhapura on 12 September 2026, in which he commented on the court's earlier order against Rajapaksa. The Chief Magistrate ordered the Inspector General of Police to investigate and report on whether Weerawansa's remarks amount to contempt of court. This is a distinct matter from the separate 2026 satyagraha contempt referral already before the Court of Appeal (wimal-weerawansa-contempt-referral) - it concerns different conduct (the 12 September rally remarks, not the July 2026 satyagraha) and a different procedural stage (a police investigation just ordered, not yet a Court of Appeal referral). No charge, finding of contempt, or arrest has been reported.

PROCEEDINGS PENDING

Court of Appeal contempt-related referral arising from statements allegedly made concerning the judicial process during a July 2026 satyagraha protest against the arrest of former State Intelligence Service Director Suresh Sallay. The Colombo Fort Magistrate found six individuals - including Jayaweera, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila - in contempt and referred the matter to the Court of Appeal. In Jayaweera's case specifically, the referral concerns comments he made during a television interview, rather than statements made in person at the protest itself.

CHARGES PENDING

Ravi Karunanayake

UNPMember of Parliament, National List

Alleged offence under Section 70 of the Bribery Act involving three National Lotteries Board employees allegedly used for political activities while he was Finance Minister.

INDICTED

Alleged corruption involving removal/sale of sand from the Kirinda Fisheries Harbour development, with investigators alleging a government loss exceeding approximately Rs. 26.2 million.

TRIAL ONGOING

Kumara Jayakody

NPPMember of Parliament, National List

Corruption case alleging that, while Procurement and Import Manager at Lanka Fertilizer Company in 2016, he caused a government loss of over Rs. 8.85 million by providing an undue advantage to a private company in a warehouse carpeting procurement.

CHARGES PENDING

Premalal Jayasekara

SLPPFormer Member of Parliament

2026 case alleging criminal intimidation/threats involving a firearm in Nuwara Eliya.

CHARGES PENDING

Johnston Fernando

SLPPFormer Cabinet Minister and former Member of Parliament

Alleged misuse of a Lanka Sathosa lorry causing an estimated loss of about Rs. 2.5 million to the State.

CHARGES PENDING

Chamara Sampath Dassanayake

SLFPMember of Parliament for Badulla District

One of multiple Uva Provincial Council corruption matters concerning alleged misuse of bank sponsorship/fixed-deposit arrangements and public funds while Chief Minister.

UNDER APPEAL

Hirunika Premachandra

SJBFormer Member of Parliament

3 years rigorous imprisonment; fines also imposed on the 18 counts

Convicted on 18 counts arising from the 2015 abduction, wrongful confinement and assault of a man in Dematagoda.

TRIAL ONGOING

High Court prosecution arising from the 2016 Rajagiriya road collision, including allegations of negligent driving and evidence-related conduct.

INDICTED

Mervyn Silva

SLFPFormer Cabinet Minister and former Member of Parliament

Case alleging fraudulent preparation/use of deeds and sale/transfer activity involving State land in the Kiribathgoda area.

INDICTED

Prasanna Ranaweera

SLPPFormer State Minister and former Member of Parliament

Co-accused in the Gampaha High Court state-land/deed case involving alleged fraudulent transactions over State land.

PROCEEDINGS PENDING

Court of Appeal contempt-related referral arising from statements allegedly made concerning the judicial process during a July 2026 satyagraha.

CONVICTED

A. H. M. Fowzie

SJBFormer Minister of Disaster Management; former Member of Parliament

2 years imprisonment suspended for 10 years; fines totaling Rs. 400,000 reported by CIABOC

Corruption case concerning use of a Toyota Land Cruiser valued around Rs. 19.5 million and government expenditure of approximately Rs. 1,073,334.93 on its maintenance.

CHARGES PENDING

Sagara Kariyawasam

SLPPGeneral Secretary, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)

Police produced him under several Penal Code provisions in connection with remarks concerning the Inspector General of Police, including alleged abetment, provoking disaffection against the Government and threats against a public officer.

STATUS UNCLEAR

Gotabaya Rajapaksa

SLPP

Lalith Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganandan, activists with the Frontline Socialist Party, disappeared in Jaffna on 9 Dec 2011 while organising a press conference; Rajapaksa was Defence Secretary at the time. Litigation has focused on compelling him to give evidence about the disappearances, not on prosecuting him. The Jaffna Magistrate's Court ordered him to give evidence and, after he sought to testify from outside Jaffna citing security concerns, granted permission for him to testify by video link, with an appearance before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court set for 29 Sep 2026. Public reporting reviewed for this record does not show that Rajapaksa has been criminally charged in this matter.

INVESTIGATION

Renuka Perera

SLPPAdministrative Secretary / senior member, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) arrested Renuka Perera, former Chairperson of the National Transport Commission, over allegations concerning the issuance of 56 Southern Expressway passenger-service permits. CIABOC alleges that statutory procedures and a Cabinet decision were not followed and that required annual licence fees were not collected in the prescribed manner. These are allegations; no conviction or finding of guilt has been reported.

INDICTED

Shasheendra Rajapaksa

SLPPFormer State Minister

Alleged improper claim/receipt of approximately Rs. 8.85 million in compensation linked to a property damaged by fire, with 10 charges reported in the 2026 indictment.

TRIAL ONGOING

S. M. Chandrasena

SLPPFormer Cabinet/Deputy Minister and former MP

Alleged misuse/distribution of approximately 36,000 kg of seed maize worth about Rs. 25 million for political purposes while serving as a minister.

INVESTIGATION

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) arrested Jagath Thilakasiri Perera (also reported as Angage Jagath Thilakasiri Perera / Jagath Angage), a former Western Province Health Minister, on 22 September 2026 over alleged offences under Part II of the Bribery Act, reported as Sections 30 and 23(a)(1). Sri Lanka Mirror describes the allegation as relating to the acceptance of a bribe; the amount and underlying facts were not reported. He was produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court and released on bail. These are allegations; no charge sheet, indictment, conviction or finding of guilt has been reported.

STATUS UNCLEAR

Basil Rajapaksa

SLPPFormer Minister of Finance; former Minister of Economic Development

FCID/court matter relating to an approximately 1.5-acre property on Eliyakanda Road, Brown's Hill.

INVESTIGATION

Janaka Tissa Kuttiarachchi

SLPPFormer Member of Parliament; former Uva Provincial Councillor

The former MP appeared before the Police Illegal Assets Investigation Unit/FCID and provided a statement in an ongoing financial investigation. Current reporting identifies the inquiry as relating to an alleged irregularity at Uva Capital Bank. He remained for approximately five hours before leaving. No arrest, remand, charge, indictment, or finding of wrongdoing was reported.

CHARGES PENDING

Alleged obstruction of, and criminal intimidation toward, traffic police officers who stopped his vehicle (reportedly fitted with unauthorised VIP lights) at Galwala Junction, Rambewa, Anuradhapura, on the night of 20 January 2025, while Archchuna was travelling to Colombo for a parliamentary sitting. Reported under Section 183/344 of the Penal Code and the Motor Traffic Act.

STATUS UNCLEAR

Rishad Bathiudeen and his brother Riyaj Bathiudeen were arrested by the CID on 24 April 2021 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over allegations of aiding and abetting the 2019 Easter Sunday bombers, and were further detained for 90 more days from 27 April 2021 (approximately 111 days held in total). On 2 November 2022, the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court ordered his release from the case on the Attorney General's advice that the charges could not be carried forward for insufficient evidence. Some reporting describes this outcome as an acquittal; the mechanism reported is the Attorney General declining to proceed rather than a trial verdict, and the precise procedural characterization (discharge vs. formal acquittal) has not been independently confirmed against a primary court record.

INVESTIGATION

Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne

NPPSpeaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka

Parliament's suspended Deputy Secretary-General and Chief of Staff, attorney Chaminda Kularatne, lodged a complaint with CIABOC on 2 February 2026 raising several allegations against Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne - reported as six allegations by some outlets and eight by others - including that he used three official vehicles despite a 7 June 2025 circular entitling the Speaker to two, and that he claimed two fuel allowances (as Speaker and separately as an MP, the latter from 17 Dec 2024 to Nov 2025). CIABOC decided to probe the complaint (reported 8 Feb 2026) and, as of 13 September 2026, had collected documents on personal staff at the Speaker's official residence, salary particulars, and vehicle usage/repair records. No arrest, charge, indictment, or finding of wrongdoing has been reported.

INVESTIGATION

Wijewickrama Manamperige Piyal Senadheera (Piyal Manamperi)

SLPPFormer Member, Angunakolapelessa Pradeshiya Sabha (Ward 01, Thalawa)

Piyal Manamperi, a former Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) member of the Angunakolapelessa Pradeshiya Sabha, was arrested on 6 September 2025 after police recovered a large stock of chemicals - reported at roughly 50,000 kg - alleged to be linked to crystal methamphetamine ('Ice') production, buried at a property in Thalawa, Middeniya. Police said the land belonged to his brother, Sampath Manamperi, and alleged that both had been involved in concealing the material. Piyal was remanded and his detention was extended repeatedly by the Walasmulla Magistrate's Court through at least 7 January 2026. Laboratory testing connected to the wider investigation was reported to have found chemicals used in methamphetamine production, and in February 2026 police told a court hearing concerning the case that laboratory reports had identified a quantity of crystal methamphetamine itself in material connected to the investigation - a finding reported in connection with the case as a whole, not specifically attributed to Piyal in the sources reviewed. No publicly reported High Court indictment or conviction against Piyal in this case has been located, though some contemporary reporting describes him as remanded 'on charges' concerning possession of the chemicals. His custody status after the January 2026 remand order could not be independently verified.

CHARGES PENDING

W.M. Sampath Preethi Viraj (Sampath Manamperi)

SLPP

During the Middeniya investigation, police said they recovered a 9mm pistol, two T-56 magazines, 115 rounds of T-56 ammunition, and a hand grenade linked to Sampath Manamperi at a property in Middeniya, and alleged the items had been supplied to him roughly two months earlier by an organised-crime figure reported as 'Backhoe Saman'. He was remanded in this matter in September 2025. On 11 September 2026, the Tangalle High Court granted him bail: a cash bail of Rs.10,000 and two sureties of Rs.250,000 each.

RIGHTS JUDGMENT

Maithripala Sirisena

SLFP

Supreme Court fundamental-rights/constitutional judgment holding that then-President Maithripala Sirisena acted arbitrarily and beyond his constitutional authority in granting a 2019 presidential pardon to Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, who had been convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to a total of 19 years' imprisonment (to run concurrently over 6 years) for disrupting court proceedings and insulting the judiciary. The Court found the pardon violated constitutional procedures for clemency, the Public Trust Doctrine, natural justice, and the constitutional guarantee of equality, in part because Sirisena relied solely on advice from an Additional Legal Secretary rather than following established protocol. This is a non-criminal constitutional judgment reviewing an official act of the presidency — it is not a criminal case, charge, or conviction against Sirisena personally, and Gnanasara Thero's own underlying conviction is unaffected and remains on the record.

CHARGES PENDING

Kasun Madusankha (Madhusanka) Bandara

NPPKegalle Municipal Council member, Olagama division

Reported inconsistently across outlets as "misappropriation"/"breach of trust" of construction funds and separately as "fraud"/"non-fulfillment of contractual obligations"; no specific statutory charge or Penal Code section is named in any source found - flagged as vague pending a confirmed charge sheet

INDICTED

Duminda Dissanayake

SLFP

A gold-plated T-56 assault rifle was discovered concealed in a bag carried by a woman at the Havelock City apartment complex, Colombo, on 20 May 2025, after a security guard alerted police. The woman told investigators the weapon had been sent to her some months earlier for safekeeping by Duminda Dissanayake. A second woman and a household employee of Dissanayake's were also arrested. Dissanayake was arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) on 23 May 2025. He was later discharged by a magistrate for lack of evidence, but the case was reopened by the Attorney General's Department in mid-2026 after fresh statements, and he was re-named a suspect. He and one of the women were indicted before the Colombo High Court on 10 Sep 2026 and released on bail the same day. This is a prosecution under active proceedings and has not resulted in a conviction.

CONVICTED

Warnakulasuriya Alex Nishantha Fernando

SLPPWennappuwa Pradeshiya Sabha member as reported in Feb 2026 (current seat unverified)

Sources can be reconciled only partially: Daily Mirror and Hiru report 16 years of rigorous imprisonment imposed across the counts, with the sentences ordered to run so that they are served within 10 years; NewsFirst and Newswire headline the sentence as 10 years. Fine amounts also vary by source. Compensation of Rs. 800,000 is consistently reported in multiple accounts.

Fraudulently preparing 26 forged/falsified land deeds and unlawfully selling approx. 3 acres 2 roods of land belonging to a complainant, by falsely claiming a named third party would transfer the land

CHARGES PENDING

Alleged approval of unlawful building/planning activity and resulting financial loss to the Dompe Pradeshiya Sabha while he was chairman; Daily Mirror reported an alleged loss of about Rs. 373,000.

ON BAIL

Keheliya Rambukwella

SLPP

CIABOC reported three corruption cases alleging that friends, relatives or supporters were placed on ministerial personal staffs without performing the stated duties, with approximately Rs.8.0m in salaries/allowances allegedly obtained.

CONVICTED

Prasanna Ranatunga

SLPP

2 years rigorous imprisonment suspended for 5 years + Rs.25 million fine; Rs.10m compensation obligation, with payment deadline reported as 6 Jul 2027.

Convicted in an extortion/threat-related case concerning a demand reported as Rs. 64 million. The two-year rigorous-imprisonment sentence was suspended for five years and a Rs. 25 million fine was imposed. He withdrew his appeal in September 2025.

RELEASED · PARDONED

4 years rigorous imprisonment

Contempt of court for statements concerning the judiciary.

RELEASED · PARDONED

Imprisonment following court-martial proceedings and the White Flag criminal case; he was released in May 2012 following presidential remission/pardon.

CONVICTED

Jagath Samantha

SLPPFormer Chairman, Arachchikattuwa Pradeshiya Sabha

5.5 years rigorous imprisonment + Rs. 1,000,000 compensation to the victim (an additional 24 months imprisonment if unpaid); one source adds Rs. 136,000 in fines

Obstructing the official duties of the then Arachchikattuwa Divisional Secretary Danasena Soorasinghe; unlawful assembly; attempting to/publicly assaulting a public official (stemming from a Nov 2008 confrontation over illegally felled government timber donated for temple construction)

CHARGES PENDING

Shan Wijayalal de Silva

SJBFormer Chief Minister of Southern Province; former MP

Alleged procurement irregularities involving approximately 16,361 chairs and expenditure of around Rs. 16.5 million while serving as Southern Province Chief Minister.

CHARGES PENDING

C. B. Rathnayake

SLPPFormer Cabinet Minister and former MP

Alleged acquisition of assets exceeding known lawful income by more than approximately Rs. 57.3 million.

CHARGES PENDING

Sajin de Vass Gunawardena

SLFPFormer Member of Parliament

Investigation under Section 23 of the Bribery Act after alleged failure to disclose acquired assets; separate reporting places the allegedly unexplained assets at about Rs. 243.8 million.

CHARGES PENDING

CIABOC alleges aiding and abetting the solicitation of Rs. 2 million and acceptance of Rs. 1.5 million in return for facilitating an official permission/licence.

CHARGES PENDING

Nimal Lanza

SLPPFormer State Minister and former Member of Parliament

Reopened case arising from an alleged 2006 assault and unlawful entry incident.

TRIAL ONGOING

Anura Priyadarshana Yapa

SLPPFormer Cabinet Minister and former Member of Parliament

Five-charge corruption prosecution alleging use of approximately Rs. 6.1 million in Ceylon Petroleum Corporation funds for political activities, presented as flood-relief spending, with his wife and other co-accused.

CHARGES PENDING

Don Harindra Chanaka Ilapperuma

UNPFormer Opposition Leader, Central Provincial Council

Two bribery complaints alleging receipt of Rs. 200,000 and Rs. 150,000 after promising government employment.

CHARGES PENDING

Alleged solicitation of Rs. 5 million, later reduced, and acceptance of Rs. 3 million in connection with a municipal cleaning tender; CIABOC also alleged a requested monthly payment of Rs. 500,000.

CHARGES PENDING

Allegations that he accepted approximately Rs. 5.48 million on several occasions in relation to land approvals between 2018 and 2022, and caused a complainant to spend about Rs. 1.25 million on interlocking work at his residence.

CHARGES PENDING

Ekanayake Walawwe Asela

SLFPFormer Chairman, Kundasale Pradeshiya Sabha; reported appointed as an SLFP district organiser in 2017

Alleged acquisition of assets disproportionate to known income; Hiru reported approximately Rs. 2,838,911 as the amount under inquiry and a 2009 to 2016 period.

CHARGES PENDING

Anagipura Ashoka Sepala

SJBFormer Chairman, Talawakelle-Lindula Urban Council; Nuwara Eliya District Chief Organizer of SJB reported in May 2025

Alleged corruption causing a loss of approximately Rs. 2.38 million by awarding a beef-stall tender to a lower bidder while chairman of the Talawakelle-Lindula Urban Council.

RELEASED · PARDONED

S. B. Dissanayake

SLFPFormer opposition parliamentarian (MP at the time of his conviction)

2 years rigorous imprisonment

Contempt of court conviction arising from remarks about the judiciary; sentenced in Dec 2004 to two years rigorous imprisonment and later pardoned.

UNDER APPEAL

18 months imprisonment.

Case arising from an incident around 10 Feb 2019 in Bandarawela involving two officers attached to the Police Narcotics Bureau. According to the prosecution, Wijesiri and others blocked the vehicle carrying the officers following an altercation, and the officers were verbally abused, assaulted and threatened. Wijesiri was convicted by the Badulla High Court on charges reported as including wrongful restraint, assault, causing injuries and criminal intimidation. This is a proven conviction, but the conviction and sentence are currently under appeal.

CHARGES PENDING

CIABOC alleges that Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena accepted a Rs.1 million bribe from a businessman in 2013 while serving as Minister of Investment Promotion, allegedly in return for facilitating a matter connected with the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka. This is an allegation under prosecution and has not resulted in a conviction.

CHARGES PENDING

Long-running criminal prosecution arising from a shooting on 14 Dec 1999 during the presidential election campaign in the Matale area. According to the Supreme Court judgment, Samantha Thilak Kumara, aged 20, died from gunshot wounds and Chaminda Sampath Kumara, aged 19, sustained gunshot injuries. Janaka Bandara Tennakoon was later committed for trial and an indictment was filed in the Kandy High Court. The Court of Appeal quashed the non-summary inquiry and resulting indictment in 2020. On 31 Mar 2026, the Supreme Court set aside the Court of Appeal decision, allowing the Attorney General's appeal and restoring the legal effect of the indictment. Tennakoon has NOT been convicted in this case.

CHARGES PENDING

Corruption prosecution concerning fuel procurement decisions made during 2017-2018, when Arjuna Ranatunga served as Petroleum Minister and his brother Dhammika Ranatunga chaired the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). Prosecutors allege that three planned long-term six-month fuel procurement tenders were cancelled and replaced with 27 spot tenders awarded at higher prices, allegedly causing approximately Rs.800 million in losses to the CPC. Arjuna Ranatunga and Dhammika Ranatunga are co-accused. These are allegations under prosecution and have not resulted in a conviction.

INVESTIGATION

CID investigation concerning firearms and ammunition issued to former Minister Douglas Devananda in 2001. Police reported that investigators were examining 20 firearms, including 15 T-56 rifles and five 9mm pistols, together with ammunition. The investigation intensified after one of the pistols originally issued to Devananda was recovered near Weliweriya in 2019 following information obtained during an organised-crime investigation. The investigation concerns what happened to the issued firearms; it has not been established as fact that Devananda illegally transferred or supplied the weapon, and no court has made such a finding.