Former Sri Lankan Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena was sentenced to a total of 16 years of rigorous imprisonment after being found guilty on four corruption charges by the Colombo High Court. The court imposed four years of rigorous imprisonment for each count.
The conviction relates to the procurement of vehicles on a rental basis while Gunawardena served as Chairman of the Development Lotteries Board in 2006. Prosecutors alleged that the transactions caused a financial loss to the State.
The verdict and sentence were delivered by High Court Judge Mohamed Mihail in a case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
The ruling comes as Sri Lanka’s government pursues a tougher anti-corruption agenda, with authorities emphasizing accountability, transparency and stronger enforcement as part of ongoing governance and economic reforms.
