A high-profile corruption case reaches a decisive conclusion as a former minister is penalized for a multi-million rupee bribery demand, raising fresh questions about political accountability and legal consequences in Sri Lanka.
The Colombo High Court has found former Western Province Chief Minister and ex-minister Prasanna Ranatunga guilty of threatening a businessman and demanding a bribe of Rs. 64 million to approve a land reclamation project in Kolonnawa. The court ordered him to pay a fine of Rs. 25 million, while his appeal against the conviction was later withdrawn before the Court of Appeal.
The Colombo High Court ordered former Western Province Chief Minister and ex-minister Prasanna Ranatunga to pay a fine of Rs. 25 million after he was found guilty of threatening a businessman and demanding a bribe of Rs. 64 million to grant approval for land reclamation in the Kolonnawa, Meethotamulla area. High Court Judge Udesh Ranathunga delivered this order while pronouncing judgment on a petition filed before the Court of Appeal seeking to annul the High Court conviction.
This high-profile corruption case was filed against former minister Prasanna Ranatunga on April 10, 2015, on charges of demanding Rs. 64 million from businessman S. Christian Gihan Mendis of the Moratuwa area to grant approval for land reclamation, obtaining Rs. 15 million of that amount, and using threats and intimidation to extract money. In addition to Prasanna Ranatunga, his wife Morris Stella Ranatunga and Naren Kumar Farik were named as accused, and the Attorney General filed this case before the Colombo High Court under five charges. The accused were charged under sections 113(a), 102, and 373 of the Penal Code, highlighting serious allegations of bribery and abuse of power.
The third accused, Kumar Farik, did not appear in court. Therefore, the case was heard in the absence of the accused under section 241 of the Criminal Procedure Code, allowing proceedings to continue despite his absence.
During the trial, seven witnesses including the complainant businessman S. Christian Gihan Mendis testified, providing crucial evidence in the bribery case. Subsequently, the second accused Stella Ranatunga made a statement from the dock. Additionally, R.P. Nuwan Rajapaksa testified for the defense during the legal proceedings.
The Colombo High Court, after hearing the case in full, delivered its judgment on June 6, 2022, finding Prasanna Ranatunga guilty. The court sentenced him to two years of rigorous imprisonment but suspended the sentence for five years. Additionally, the court ordered him to pay a fine of Rs. 25 million and compensation of Rs. 1 million to the aggrieved businessman, stating that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional nine years of imprisonment. The second accused, the convict’s wife, was acquitted.
The convict filed an appeal against the order issued by the Colombo High Court. This petition was taken up before a five-member bench of the Court of Appeal comprising Justices Mayadunne Koraya, P. Kumaran Ratnam, Sashi Mahendran, Damith Thotawatta, and Amal Ranaraja.
President’s Counsel Faiz Mustapha appeared for the petitioner Prasanna Ranatunga. He informed the court that his client was prepared to withdraw the appeal if time was granted to pay the compensation and fine amounts, signaling a shift in the legal strategy.
The bench inquired whether the Attorney General representative Deputy Solicitor General Asad Nawawi, and President’s Counsel Riyansi Arsekularatne, appearing for the aggrieved party, objected to this request. Both lawyers stated that they had no objection and requested that the court issue an appropriate order according to its powers.
Accordingly, the court granted permission to withdraw the petition, effectively bringing a dramatic end to one of Sri Lanka’s most closely watched corruption and bribery cases involving a former minister.
