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According to submissions made before Colombo Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama, investigators plan to take Ranatunga into custody upon his return to Sri Lanka. The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption told the court that Ranatunga and his brother are accused of altering established procedures for awarding long-term oil supply contracts during his tenure as petroleum minister in 2017. Instead of following standard procurement practices, the commission alleges that the changes led to repeated spot purchases of oil at significantly higher prices.
The watchdog estimates that the state suffered losses of approximately 800 million Sri Lankan rupees, equivalent to about Rs 23.5 crore, from 27 such transactions. Investigators argue that these decisions placed an unnecessary financial burden on the country’s energy sector at a time when Sri Lanka was already under economic strain.
Earlier on Monday, Ranatunga’s elder brother, Dhammika Ranatunga, who served as chairman of the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation during the same period, was arrested in connection with the case. He was later released on bail, but the magistrate imposed a travel ban, citing his dual citizenship in Sri Lanka and the United States as a potential flight risk. The next court hearing has been scheduled for March 13.
Arjuna Ranatunga, now 62, is widely revered in Sri Lanka for leading the national cricket team to its historic victory in the 1996 Cricket World Cup, defeating Australia in what remains the island nation’s greatest sporting achievement. His prominence has long extended beyond cricket, with a political career that included a cabinet role overseeing the petroleum sector.
The investigation into the Ranatunga brothers forms part of a broader anti-corruption drive launched by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who assumed office last year after pledging to confront what he described as endemic corruption across Sri Lanka’s political and administrative systems. Authorities have signaled that the campaign will target both past and present officeholders, regardless of stature.
Legal scrutiny has also extended to another member of the family. Prasanna Ranatunga, a younger brother and former tourism minister, was arrested last month in connection with an insurance fraud case that remains pending. He had previously been convicted in June 2022 for extorting money from a businessman and is currently serving a two-year suspended prison sentence.
As the case against Arjuna Ranatunga advances, it represents a significant test of Sri Lanka’s commitment to accountability at the highest levels. The unfolding proceedings carry implications not only for the former World Cup-winning captain and his family but also for public confidence in the government’s resolve to pursue corruption cases without fear or favor.
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