The long-simmering scandal over the 2021 Chinese fertilizer import has taken a dramatic turn, with Sri Lanka’s Bribery and Corruption Investigation Commission informing the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that multiple former ministers are now in the crosshairs of a criminal probe and arrests are imminent.
During a recent court hearing on the controversial deal, investigators revealed that they are pursuing legal action against key political figures believed to be responsible for importing a substandard stock of fertilizer from a Chinese firm , a move that allegedly cost the country a staggering $6.9 million in losses.
This announcement came as the former Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, who is already in remand custody over the same case, was produced before court. Despite being granted bail, the official was returned to custody after failing to meet the bail requirements.
The focus now turns sharply to the political heavyweights who held sway over the Agriculture Ministry during the scandal’s timeline. In 2021, Mahindananda Aluthgamage served as the Minister of Agriculture, while Shasheendra Rajapaksa held the position of State Minister of Agriculture.
According to court filings, these former ministers are under investigation for their roles in approving or facilitating the controversial procurement. The investigating officers made it clear to the court that plans are underway to bring them in for questioning and potentially arrest based on mounting evidence.
The scandal, which drew massive public outrage at the time, is once again front and center in national discourse, with the legal noose tightening around some of the country’s most recognizable political names. As pressure builds and the investigation intensifies, the country now waits to see if arrests will materialize and whether political accountability will finally be delivered.
