MONETABRIEF - List of Sri Lanka political leaders, senior ministers, public officials, ex-diplomats, and other persons tabled in parliament against whom allegations are being investigated or cases are being pursued.

1. Main political leaders and senior ministers

1. Johnston Fernando — former minister

• Allegation: Causing a loss of Rs. 40 million to the government by removing 153 CWE employees from their regular duties and deploying them in political activities. • Date filed: 12 May 2016 • Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/8820/2016 to HC/8824/2016 • Status: Trial ongoing.

2. Wimal Weerawansa — former minister • Allegation: Acquiring undeclared assets worth Rs. 75.4 million in excess of his legitimate income during 2010–2015.

• Date filed: 3 October 2017

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/8931/2017

• Status: Trial proceeding after indictment was served.

3. Mahindananda Aluthgamage — former minister

• Allegation: Causing a loss of Rs. 53.1 million by obtaining 14,000 carrom boards through Sathosa and distributing them during the 2014 presidential election.

• Date filed: 18 August 2016

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar — HC/Trial-at-Bar/02/2018

• Status: Trial ongoing.

4. Basil Rajapaksa — former minister

• Allegation: Spending Rs. 2,991 million from the Divi Neguma Fund to distribute roofing sheets (G.I. sheets) during the presidential election.

• Date filed: 15 April 2015

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/8332/2016

• Status: Convicted by the High Court; the former minister has appealed to the Supreme Court.

5. Rohitha Abeygunawardena — former minister

• Allegation: Causing a financial loss to the government by leasing the Modera fishery harbour for an inadequate amount.

• Date filed: 29 October 2020

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/134/2020

• Status: Trial before the High Court.

2. Members and associates of the Rajapaksa family

6. Ravi Karunanayake — former Finance Minister

• Allegation: Causing a loss of Rs. 51.9 million in connection with the 2016 Central Bank bond issue and obtaining an unsecured loan of Rs. 10 million from Perpetual Treasuries without making a payment.

• Date filed: 6 July 2021

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar — HC/Trial-at-Bar/01/2021

• Status: Evidence trial in progress.

7. Prasanna Ranatunga — former minister • Allegation: Threatening a businessman and demanding Rs. 64 million in order to grant permission to fill land in the Negombo–Thalahena area

• Date filed: 20 July 2015

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/8201/2016

• Status: Appeal pending against a two-year rigorous imprisonment sentence and a fine of Rs. 25 million.

8. Priyankara Jayaratne — former deputy minister

• Allegation: Misappropriating Rs. 9.1 million from the funds of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency and obtaining five televisions for personal use.

• Date filed: 27 October 2017 • Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/228/2021

• Status: Trial ongoing.

9. A. H. M. Fowzie — former minister

• Allegation: Using a Land Cruiser vehicle received on behalf of the Ministry of Disaster Management for personal use.

• Date filed: 9 September 2016

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/102/2020

• Status: After pleading guilty, a two-year rigorous imprisonment sentence and a fine were imposed.

10. Sarath Kumara Gunawardena — former deputy minister

• Allegation: While serving as chairman of the Development Lotteries Board, misappropriating government funds and obtaining vehicles for personal use.

• 15 March 2016

• Court and case number: Colombo Magistrate’s Court — MC/C/71832/201

• Status: Convicted and sentenced to imprisonment and a fine.

11. Namal Rajapaksa — Member of Parliament

• Allegation: Receiving Rs. 70 million from India’s Krrish Group and laundering the money.

• Date filed: 11 July 2016

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/8524/2016

• Status: Evidence trial in progress.

12. Yoshitha Rajapaksa — former head of the Presidential Staff

• Allegation: Using Rs. 234 million acquired unlawfully to establish the CSN television channel.

• Date filed: 30 January 2016

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/8651/2017

• Status: Case being heard.

13. Gotabaya Rajapaksa — former President

• Allegation: Using Rs. 33.9 million belonging to the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation to construct the D. A. Rajapaksa memorial in Medamulana.

• Date filed: 8 September 2015

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar — HC/Trial-at-Bar/01/2018

• Status: The matter is being considered before the Supreme Court following a petition filed by the Attorney General.

14. Udayanga Weeratunga — former presidential adviser

• Allegation: An investigation into the use of a Defender vehicle allegedly connected with the murder of journalists and other related incidents, involving funds obtained through the “Kandahena Foundation.”

• Date filed: 15 June 2015

• Court and case number: Colombo Magistrate’s Court — MC/B/1682/2015

• Status: CID investigation reports have been submitted to the court.

15. Rohitha Rajapaksa — President’s son

• Allegation: Misappropriating government funds and state resources for the “Supreme SAT” lunar project.

• Date filed: 20 March 2015

• Court and case number: Colombo Magistrate’s Court — MC/B/891/2015

• Status: Investigation reports are pending before the Attorney General’s Department.

16. Chamal Rajapaksa — former Speaker / minister

• Allegation: A complaint concerning the allocation of funds from the Ports and Shipping Ministry for unauthorized projects.

Date filed: 18 September 2016

• Court and case number: Colombo Magistrate’s Court — MC/B/3102/2016

• Status: An investigation has been conducted and a report submitted.

17. Shashendra Rajapaksa — former State Minister

• Allegation: Distributing several blocks of government land in the Moneragala area among his relatives as personal property.

• Date filed: 12 November 2015

• Court and case number: Badulla Magistrate’s Court — MC/B/1840/2015 •

• Status: Case under trial.

18. Jaliya Wickramasuriya — former ambassador to the United States

• Allegation: Defrauding US$332,000 in connection with purchasing the building for the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington, D.C.

• Date filed: 17 November 2016 •

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/8980/2017 • Status: Case taken up for trial.

19. Udayanga Weeratunga — former ambassador to Russia

• Allegation: Causing a financial fraud involving US$7 million in connection with the purchase of MiG-27 aircraft from Ukraine.

• Date filed: 9 June 2015 •

• Court and case number: Colombo Magistrate’s Court — MC/B/412/2015 • Status: Case under trial. 20. Nirupama Rajapaksa — former deputy minister

• Allegation: Concealing secret assets in foreign bank accounts through the Panama/Pandora Papers.

• Date filed: 8 October 2021

• Court and case number: Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) investigation file — BC/2410/2021

• Status: At the CIABOC investigation stage.

3. Senior public officials and diplomats

21. Lalith Weeratunga — former Secretary to the President

• Allegation: Spending Rs. 600 million from Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) funds to distribute “Sil Redi” during the 2014 presidential election.

• Date filed: 25 September 2015

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/8031/2015 •

• Status: Sentenced by the High Court; an appeal is pending before the Supreme Court.

22. Anusha Palpita — former Director General of the TRC

• Allegation: Authorizing the use of TRC funds as personal funds in connection with the Sil Redi distribution case.

• Date filed: 25 September 2015

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/8031/2015

• Status: Supreme Court proceedings are ongoing.

23. Pujith Jayasundara — former Inspector General of Police

• Allegation: Failing to act to prevent the 2019 Easter attacks despite receiving prior intelligence information about them.

• Date filed: 10 August 2021 •

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar — HC/Trial-at-Bar/2289/2021 •

• Status: A personal appeal is pending before the Supreme Court.

24. Hemasiri Fernando — former Defence Secretary

• Allegation: Gross dereliction of duty by failing to take adequate action to prevent the Easter attacks.

• Date filed: 10 August 2021

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar — HC/Trial-at-Bar/2288/2021

• Status: Supreme Court appeal proceedings are in progress.

25. Arjuna Mahendran — former Governor of the Central Bank

• Allegation: Unlawfully obtaining inside information during the February 2015 bond issue and causing a loss to the government.

• Date filed: 2 February 2018

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar — HC/Trial-at-Bar/1530/2019

• Status: Ordered to be tried in absentia.

26. Arjun Aloysius — director of Perpetual Treasuries

• Allegation: Causing a financial loss to the government through the Central Bank bond fraud.

• Date filed: 2 February 2018

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar — HC/Trial-at-Bar/01/2021

• Status: Case under trial.

27. Kasun Palisena — former Chief Executive Officer of Perpetual Treasuries

• Allegation: Manipulating the Central Bank bond auction and providing assistance in the related offences.

• Date filed: 2 February 2018

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar — HC/Trial-at-Bar/01/2021

• Status: Case under trial.

28. Nalaka de Silva — former Deputy Inspector General of Police

• Allegation: Conspiring to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena and Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

• Date filed: 25 October 2018

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/9821/2019

• Status: Trial before the High Court.

29. Jayantha Wickramaratne — former Inspector General of Police

• Allegation: Destroying police intelligence information relating to the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge. •

• Date filed: 18 December 2017 •

• Court and case number: Gampaha Magistrate’s Court — MC/B/92/2009 • Status: Action being taken under court orders.

30. Anura Senanayake — former Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police

• Allegation: Concealing evidence in the murder of journalist Wasim Thajudeen and falsely reporting the death as a traffic accident.

• Date filed: 23 May 2016

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/8892/2017 •

• Status: The case is proceeding against the other suspects.

4. Members of provincial councils, municipal councils, and corporations

31. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake — former State Minister / Chief Minister of Uva Province

• Allegation: Causing a loss of Rs. 16 million in purchasing “school redi” for schools under the Uva Provincial Council.

• Date filed: 14 August 2018

Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/112/2021

• Status: Trial in progress. 32. S. M. Ranjith Samarakoon — former Chief Minister of the North Central Province

• Allegation: Causing a loss to the government by obtaining fuel in excess of the official fuel allowance.

• Date filed: 10 July 2017

• Court and case number: Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court — MC/B/1210/2017

• Status: Convicted and sentenced.

33. Piyasena Gamage — former minister

• Allegation: Providing land belonging to the Sri Lanka Board of Investment (BOI) to a private party.

• Date filed: 10 November 2017 •

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/110/2020

• Status: Trial before the High Court.

34. Bandula Gunawardena — former minister

• Allegation: Causing a substantial financial loss to the government in connection with the importation of sugar through Sathosa. •

• Date filed: 4 August 2015

• Court and case number: Colombo Magistrate’s Court — MC/B/2102/2015

• Status: Referred to the Attorney General’s Department. 35. Mahinda Homagama — former corporation chairman

• Allegation: Using funds of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau for tourism-related activities as personal funds.

• Date filed: 18 February 2016 •

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/8412/2016 •

• Status: Trial before the High Court.

36. Rupavathi Kethiswar — former Director

• Allegation: Distributing cooked food and government funds as personal property.

• Date filed: 12 July 2017

• Court and case number: Vavuniya High Court — HC/42/2018

• Status: Trial before the High Court.

37. Jayantha Fernando — former Additional Secretary of Police

• Allegation: Defrauding Rs. 15 million in the purchase of medical equipment for a police hospital.

• Date filed: 10 May 2016

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/91/2018

• Status: Trial before the High Court.

38. Geetha Kumarasinghe — former deputy minister

• Allegation: Concealing dual citizenship, serving as a Member of Parliament, and receiving parliamentary benefits.

• Date filed: 24 March 2015

• Court and case number: Supreme Court — SC/Appeal/121/2017

• Status: The seat of Member of Parliament was declared vacant.

39. Rohitha Bogollagama — former minister

• Allegation: Misusing funds and official authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. •

• Date filed: 15 November 2016 •

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/8910/2017 •

• Status: Case taken up for trial.

40. Kumara Welgama — former minister

• Allegation: Causing a loss of Rs. 3.2 million by obtaining a personal vehicle while serving as chairman of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB). •

• Date filed: 16 December 2016 •

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/8920/2017 •

• Status: Case under trial.

5. Other cases relating to crimes, corruption, and financial irregularities

41. Wasim Thajudeen murder case — including the relevant suspects

• Allegation: Murdering rugby player Wasim Thajudeen and destroying evidence. •

• Date filed: 23 February 2015 •

• Court and case number: Colombo Magistrate’s Court — MC/B/1682/2012 (and High Court cases) •

• Status: Evidence trial in progress.

42. Lasantha Wickrematunge murder case — including the relevant suspects

• Allegation: Murdering Lasantha Wickrematunge, editor of Sunday Leader, and concealing evidence.

• Date filed: 8 January 2009 / 2015 investigation •

• Court and case number: Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court — MC/B/92/2009 •

• Status: CID investigations and court proceedings are ongoing.

43. Case concerning the abduction and disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda

• Allegation: Abducting and causing the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.

• Date filed: 27 November 2019 (indictment) •

Court and case number: Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar — HC/Trial-at-Bar/01/2019 •

• Status: Trial ongoing.

44. Case concerning the disappearance of Lalith and Kugan

• Allegation: Abducting and causing the disappearance of Lalith Kumar Weeraraju and Kugan Murugananthan in Jaffna. •

• Date filed: 10 December 2011 •

• Court and case number: Mallakam Magistrate’s Court — MC/B/121/2011 •

• Status: Investigation ongoing.

45. Case concerning the assault on journalist Keith Noyahr

• Allegation: Abducting journalist Keith Noyahr and subjecting him to torture.

• Date filed: 18 February 2017

• Court and case number: Gampaha High Court — HC/201/2018

• Status: Case under trial.

46. Case concerning the assault on journalist Upali Tennakoon

• Allegation: Assaulting journalist Upali Tennakoon, editor of Rivira, with intent to kill him.

• Date filed: 25 August 2016

• Court and case number: Gampaha High Court — HC/112/2019

• Status: Case under trial.

47. Ranjith Samaraweera — former minister

• Allegation: Causing irregularities by releasing government sugar stocks to the private sector at an undervalued price.

• Date filed: 19 July 2016

• Court and case number: Colombo Magistrate’s Court — MC/B/1802/2016

• Status: Investigation reports are being considered.

48. Wijedasa Rajapaksha — former minister

• Allegation: A complaint that he exerted influence over the activities of the Attorney General’s Department in relation to the Avant-Garde case.

• Date filed: 2 November 2017

• Court and case number: Colombo Magistrate’s Court — MC/B/4102/2017

• Status: At the investigation stage.

49. Nissanka Senadhipathi — chairman of Avant-Garde

• Allegation: As the owner of a company described as an arms agent, illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and causing a loss of Rs. 11.4 million to the government.

• Date filed: 3 September 2019

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar — HC/Trial-at-Bar/88/2019

• Status: Case under trial.

50. Tilan Wijesinghe — former chairman of the BOI

• Allegation: Violating the Bribery Act by awarding contracts for state development projects outside the approved procedures.

• Date filed: 14 February 2018 •

• Court and case number: Colombo High Court — HC/9021/2018 •

• Status: Trial before the High Court.