Sri Lankan authorities plan to arrest former cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga on corruption charges linked to his time as petroleum minister. A court heard the matter on Monday.
Investigators said Ranatunga and his brother changed the rules for long term oil supply deals. They allegedly approved spot purchases instead. These deals cost the state more money, according to the corruption watchdog.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption said the state lost 800 million rupees from 27 purchases made in 2017. The amount was worth just over five million dollars at the time.
The commission told Colombo Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama that Arjuna Ranatunga is now abroad. He will be arrested once he returns to the country.
His elder brother Dhammika Ranatunga was arrested on Monday. He was later released on bail. Dhammika was the chairman of the state owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation during the period in question.
The court also imposed a travel ban on Dhammika. He holds dual citizenship of Sri Lanka and the United States. The next court hearing is set for March 13.
Arjuna Ranatunga is 62 years old. He led Sri Lanka to victory in the 1996 Cricket World Cup after defeating Australia. It remains the country’s greatest moment in cricket.
The case is part of a wider anti corruption drive by the government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He took office last year with a promise to fight corruption.
Another brother, Prasanna Ranatunga, was arrested last month in an insurance fraud case. That case is still pending.
Prasanna was earlier convicted in June 2022 for extorting money from a businessman. He is serving a two year suspended prison sentence.
