Sri Lanka’s Former Sports Minister Found Guilty For Misappropriating State Funds

Last Updated:May 29, 2025, 16:01 IST

Sri Lankan court sentences ex-ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Anil Fernando to decades in prison for misappropriating state funds in a major corruption case.

Sri Lanka's former sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage (C) and former trade minister Anil Fernando (center R) are escorted by police outside a court in Colombo. (Image: AFP)

On Thursday, a Sri Lankan court sentenced two former ministers from the government of deposed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to decades in prison in a significant corruption case.

Ex-sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former trade minister Anil Fernando were found guilty by the Colombo High Court of misappropriating 53 million rupees ($177,000) of state funds.

They were also fined $2,000 for using government money to donate board games — including 14,000 carrom boards and 11,000 draughts sets — in an attempt to boost the failed 2015 re-election bid of Gotabaya’s elder brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Aluthgamage received a 20-year prison sentence, while Fernando was sentenced to 25 years.

Aluthgamage is now the most senior member of a Rajapaksa-led cabinet to be successfully prosecuted for corruption.

The cases against both men were initiated six years ago, when the Rajapaksa brothers were out of power, but progress was slow until a new government took office last year.

Aluthgamage also faces a separate investigation into allegations that he authorised a payment of $6.09 million to a Chinese supplier in 2022 for a fertiliser shipment that was never delivered.

In 2020, he caused a stir by accusing Sri Lanka’s national cricket team of rigging the 2011 World Cup final in favour of India, triggering an investigation that ultimately failed to substantiate his claims.

Aluthgamage, who served as sports minister from 2010 to 2015, said in June 2020 that he “had not wanted to disclose" the alleged match-fixing plot at the time.

“In 2011, we were supposed to win, but we sold the match. I feel I can talk about it now. I am not implicating players, but certain sections were involved," he said.

Sri Lanka lost the final at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium by six wickets. Both Indian and Sri Lankan players have strongly denied any wrongdoing.

But Sri Lanka managed to redeem itself by beating India in the T20 World Cup final in 2014 and gave some of their legendary players like Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Lasith Malinga and others the coveted ICC title that they deserve, considering their contributions to the national team over many years.

Now the team is far from its best, and talents like their predecessors have yet to come to the big stage.

(with AFP Inputs)

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Location :

Colombo, Sri Lanka

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News sports Sri Lanka’s Former Sports Minister Found Guilty For Misappropriating State Funds