2 former Sri Lankan ministers jailed for corruption

Former Sports Minister Aluthgamage sentenced to 20 years while former Trade Minister Fernando gets 25-year sentence

By Anadolu staff

A Sri Lankan court on Thursday sentenced two former ministers from the deposed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Cabinet to more than two decades in prison for corruption, according to local media reports.

The Colombo Permanent High Court sentenced former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, while former Trade Minister Nalin Fernando received a 25-year sentence, News 1st reported.

The verdict was delivered by a three-judge bench comprising Justices Mahesh Weeraman, Pradeep Abeyratne, and Amali Ranawera.

The two former ministers were convicted of fraud related to a procurement deal involving the import of 14,000 carrom boards and 11,000 checkerboards between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31, 2014.

The deal allegedly caused a loss of 53 million rupees (approximately $177,000) to the state.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid

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