Sarana Welikada Library for cleaning work

Internal prison sources state that former Minister Sarana Gunawardena, who was convicted of financial fraud charges and is currently serving a prison sentence, has been assigned to office cleaning duties at Welikada Prison. Accordingly, it is reported that he is currently involved in cleaning several offices within the prison premises, including the library and the archives.

The former minister was imprisoned for being convicted of four financial irregularities related to vehicle rentals committed in 2006, when he served as the Chairman of the Development Lotteries Board. Charges of misusing government and public funds, obtaining vehicles on a rental basis outside of due process, and providing undue benefits to others have been proven against him through this.

Announcing the verdict in these cases filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, Colombo High Court Judge Mohamed Mihail ordered that he be sentenced to 16 years of rigorous imprisonment, with 4 years for each of the four charges. These charges were filed under the offense of "corruption" as per Section 70 of the Bribery Act No. 11 of 1954, and in addition to the prison sentence, the court also imposed a fine of 1.8 million rupees on him.

However, the same sources further confirm that prison authorities have assigned him to cleaning duties in places such as the prison library and archives, taking into consideration the former minister's current health condition.