In the Interim Ranatunga Brothers Allegedly Planning an Overseas Trip
A high-profile bribery case filed at the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) involving former Sri Lanka cricket captain and ex-Minister Arjuna Ranatunga and his brother Dhammika Ranatunga appears to have hit a standstill, with sources alleging that external influence has caused the case to be shelved.
The case, listed under file number BC 3131/19, was reportedly filed by a businessman and involves a sum close to Rs. 800 million. The charges relate to a period when Arjuna Ranatunga held ministerial office with oversight of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. His brother Dhammika Ranatunga, a controversial appointee to the post of Chairman at the Corporation, was allegedly installed by Arjuna himself, raising accusations of nepotism and abuse of power.
Despite the gravity of the allegations and the public resources in question, the investigation appears to have gone dormant. Multiple sources close to the matter suggest that political pressure or influence may be impeding the progress of the probe. “It’s gathering dust,” one source commented, pointing to a broader pattern of selective accountability in high-level corruption cases.
The latest development comes as public attention has turned sharply to matters of governance and accountability following the landmark conviction of former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Trade Minister Nalin Fernando, who were recently sentenced to 20 and 25 years respectively over the carrom board procurement scandal. That ruling has revived public demand for equal treatment under the law and brought renewed scrutiny to dormant or mishandled corruption investigations.
In what some perceive as a carefully timed move, both Arjuna and Dhammika Ranatunga are reportedly preparing to travel abroad in the coming days, an action many allege is intended to “buy time” as the bribery case filed against them remains stalled. Although no official travel ban has been issued, the timing of their planned departure has raised eyebrows, with critics suggesting it may be a calculated attempt to evade mounting legal scrutiny. Arjuna Ranatunga’s recent resignation from the Executive Committee of the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC), publicly attributed to frustration over the club’s declining cricket standards and leadership shortcomings, is now also being linked by insiders to the ongoing Rs. 800 million corruption allegation involving his tenure as Minister and his brother’s controversial appointment to the Petroleum Corporation.
The CIABOC has yet to issue an official statement regarding the status of case BC 3131/19. Legal analysts warn that continued inaction could seriously undermine public trust in the commission’s independence and credibility.
As Sri Lanka grapples with an ongoing crisis of political accountability, calls are mounting for transparency, due process, and an end to impunity, regardless of status or fame. With the Ranatunga case now under public scrutiny, the spotlight is once again on whether justice will prevail, or be deferred indefinitely.
