Sri Lankan authorities have announced plans to arrest former cricket captain and ex-petroleum minister Arjuna Ranatunga over alleged corruption linked to oil procurement deals during his time in office.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption informed a Colombo court on Monday that Ranatunga, along with his brother, is accused of altering established procedures for awarding long-term oil supply contracts. Investigators allege that the changes led to expensive spot purchases, causing significant financial losses to the state.
According to the commission, the Sri Lankan government suffered losses amounting to 800 million rupees, equivalent to just over $5 million at the time, from 27 oil purchases made in 2017.
Officials told Colombo Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama that Arjuna Ranatunga was currently overseas and would be arrested upon his return to Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Ranatunga’s elder brother Dhammika Ranatunga, who served as chairman of the state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, was arrested on Monday. He was later released on bail after being produced in court.
The case has drawn widespread attention due to Ranatunga’s stature as a national cricket hero who famously captained Sri Lanka to its 1996 World Cup victory.
