Lohan Ratwatte: A Life of Power, Privilege… and Scandal Ends at 57

Former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte — once a rising star in Sri Lanka’s political elite, later a lightning rod for controversy — has died at 57, after a period of illness.

Born into one of Kandy’s most influential political dynasties, Lohan was the son of the late General Anuruddha Ratwatte, the formidable Deputy Defence Minister during the war years. With that pedigree, his 2000 entry into Parliament for the Kandy District felt almost preordained. The name “Ratwatte” opened doors in Colombo’s corridors of power — and kept him firmly in the public eye.

Over the years, he held portfolios that were as varied as they were high-profile — from State Minister of Prison Management and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation to State Minister of Gem and Jewellery-related Industries. His tenure was marked by a reputation for influence and an unapologetically bold personal style.

But the glamour came with shadows. Ratwatte’s career was punctuated by controversies that never quite faded from public memory. The most infamous came in 2021, when allegations emerged that he had stormed into two prisons — Anuradhapura and Welikada — allegedly under the influence of alcohol, brandishing a firearm, and threatening Tamil political prisoners. The incident sparked outrage, condemnation from human rights groups, and ultimately led to his resignation from his prison affairs portfolio. While he denied the most serious allegations, the episode tarnished his political standing beyond repair.

Even before that, whispers of excess and strongman behaviour trailed him. Political insiders alternately described him as “charismatic” and “uncontrollable,” a man who moved with ease among Colombo’s elite yet seemed forever courting trouble. His shift from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party to the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna only reinforced the image of a politician who thrived on political manoeuvring.

In later years, Ratwatte kept a lower profile, focusing on business and family — but the scandals lingered, ensuring that his name still sparked heated conversations in political circles.

With his passing, Sri Lanka loses one of its more colourful and controversial political figures — a man whose life was an unsteady mix of privilege, power, and public disgrace. For his admirers, he was a loyal son of Kandy and a fighter for his constituents. For his detractors, he was the embodiment of the arrogance and impunity that too often stalks the political class.

And in true Sri Lankan fashion, both narratives will now live on, long after the funeral rites are done.