Sri Lanka’s Bribery Commission plans to arrest former cricket captain and ex-minister Arjuna Ranatunga in connection with a corruption investigation into fuel purchases at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), according to media reports.
The Commission told the Chief Magistrate’s Court on Monday that authorities have named Ranatunga as a suspect in a case where the CPC allegedly lost nearly Rs 800 million (Sri Lankan Rupees) through fuel purchases made at inflated prices.
Officials informed the court that they will arrest Ranatunga and bring him before the court, but he is currently overseas.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) presented the case through Assistant Director (Legal) Anusha Sammandapperuma when authorities produced former CPC Chairman Dhammika Ranatunga, whom they arrested earlier on corruption charges.
Sammandapperuma told the court that the CPC cancelled three long-term fuel tenders scheduled for 2017-2018. The corporation then proceeded with spot tenders at higher prices, a decision that allegedly cost the state-run entity nearly Rs 800 million.
According to court submissions, authorities have named Dhammika Ranatunga as the first suspect and former Minister of Petroleum Resources Development Arjuna Ranatunga as the second suspect in the case.
Sammandapperuma requested the court’s intervention and sought an order to remand the suspect, noting that investigators continue to examine the incident.
President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris, representing the first suspect, told the court that his client has cooperated with investigators. He requested the court release the suspect on bail under suitable conditions in terms of the Bail Act.
After hearing both sides, the Chief Magistrate ordered the release of the suspect on two sureties of Rs 1 million each. The court also imposed a foreign travel ban on the suspect, media reports said.
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