June 09, Colombo (LNW): The Colombo High Court today (09) sentenced former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena to a total of four years’ rigorous imprisonment in each of four corruption cases brought by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.
Delivering the ruling, High Court Judge Mohamed Mihail also ordered Gunawardena to pay cumulative fines amounting to Rs. 1.8 million.
The convictions stem from Gunawardena’s period as Chairman of the Development Lotteries Board in 2006, during which he was found to have engaged in irregular procurement practices that resulted in financial losses to the State.
According to the prosecution, the former minister authorised the hiring of vehicles for the institution under rental arrangements that were deemed detrimental to public finances. The court concluded that these actions constituted corruption under the relevant laws.