Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga’s younger brother has been sentenced to two years’ rigorous imprisonment for extorting a businessman by threatening him. The case against Urban Development Minister Prasanna Ranatunga was registered in 2015. The High Court sentenced Prasanna to two years’ rigorous imprisonment. Prasanna’s wife was acquitted of all charges. Prasanna was also ordered to pay a fine of Rs 2.5 crore and Rs 10 lakh as damages to the businessman.
Sri Lanka ranks 102 out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index for 2021, but it is rare that the country’s senior politicians are held accountable for corruption charges. The court found that Ranatunga had demanded a bribe of Rs 64 crore from the businessman in 2015. He had complained to the police that Ranatunga had threatened to kill him.
A court official said the judge also ruled that the minister would have to undergo a 12-year jail term if he failed to pay the fine and compensation. There was no immediate comment from the 55-year-old politician. He was then the Chief Minister of the Western Province, which covers the capital Colombo.
Ranatunga is a key aide to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and serves as his chief government whip in parliament. Since Rajapaksa came to power in November 2019, several politicians, including his younger brother Basil, have been relieved of corruption cases after the government withdrew charges on “technical issues”.
Thousands have been demonstrating outside Rajapaksa’s office in Colombo since April 9, demanding his resignation over the country’s devastating economic crisis. Sri Lanka is facing severe shortage of foreign exchange. Due to this it is unable to afford even the most essential imports like food, fuel and medicines.