The list of upcoming political cases is announced

A list of 50 high-profile cases, which were filed under various fraud and corruption charges during the Ranil-Maithri administration and later suppressed due to political influence, has now resurfaced. This list, tabled in Parliament on the 8th by the Leader of the House, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Bimal Rathnayake, includes over twenty politicians, members of political families, and numerous senior public officials.

Participating in the second reading debate on the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill, the Minister emphasized that these cases were filed in the past based on evidence uncovered by institutions such as the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and the Criminal Investigation Department. However, he pointed out that these cases, which were previously delayed through political deals, have now been expedited, and some are attempting to portray the punishment of offenders as political revenge.

According to the information presented by the Minister to Parliament, several prominent political figures have been accused in these cases filed from 2015 to date. Among them are Johnston Fernando (case filed on May 12, 2016, regarding a loss of Rs. 40 million by deploying Sathosa employees for political activities), Wimal Weerawansa (case filed on October 03, 2017, regarding the acquisition of illicit assets worth Rs. 75.4 million), Mahindananda Aluthgamage (case filed on August 18, 2016, concerning the issue of 14 carrom boards), and Basil Rajapaksa (case filed on April 15, 2015, regarding the misuse of Rs. 2,991 million from the Divinaguma fund for distributing aid during the presidential election).

In addition, the list includes cases filed at various times against individuals such as Rajitha Senaratne (financial loss incurred by leasing the Modara Fisheries Harbour), Ravi Karunanayake (loss of 51.9 billion in the 2016 Central Bank auction), Prasanna Ranatunga (threatening a businessman for Rs. 64 million), Priyankara Jayaratne, A.H.M. Fowzie, Sarana Gunawardena, Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, S.M. Ranjith Samarakoon, Piyasena Gamage, Bandula Gunawardena, Geetha Kumarasinghe, and Rohitha Bogollagama.

The Minister also revealed details about cases filed against several members of the Rajapaksa family. He cited as examples the cases filed against Namal Rajapaksa (Indian Krish project - July 01, 2016), Yoshitha Rajapaksa (acquiring Rs. 234 million through CSN channel - January 30, 2016), Gotabaya Rajapaksa (obtaining Rs. 33.9 million from the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation for the Medamulana monument - September 08, 2015), Shiranthi Rajapaksa (Siriliya Foundation and use of Defender vehicle related to Thajudeen murder - June 15, 2015), Rohitha Rajapaksa, Chamal Rajapaksa, Shashindra Rajapaksa, and Nirupama Rajapaksa.

Cases filed against former US Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya (defrauding USD 332,000) and Udayanga Weeratunga, who was accused in the MiG aircraft deal, as well as senior state and police officials Lalith Weeratunga, Anusha Pelpita, Pujith Jayasundara, Hemasiri Fernando, Arjuna Mahendran, Arjun Aloysius, Kasun Palisena, Nalaka de Silva, Jayantha Wickramaratne, and Anura Senanayake, were also brought to attention in Parliament.

The Minister emphasized that investigative units have been strengthened and the judiciary is functioning, and that his government does not engage in revenge as past rulers did. He stated that there are no arbitrary arrests or a 'white van culture' today, unlike in the past.

Taking Rwanda, now known as the Singapore of Africa, and South Korea after 1997 as examples of progress achieved through anti-corruption efforts, Minister Bimal Rathnayake pointed out that investor confidence can be gained by raising international rankings through an independent judicial system where the law applies equally to all. He further stated that by establishing the rule of law, thugs have been silenced today, and a country can gain significant strength by combating corruption.

The tabled list is as follows:

1. Johnston Fernando - Accused of causing a loss of approximately Rs. 40 million by deploying 153 Sathosa employees for political activities.

2. Wimal Weerawansa - Accused of possessing assets worth Rs. 75.4 million more than his legal income.

3. Mahindananda Aluthgamage - Accused of misusing government funds to distribute 14,000 carrom boards during the 2014 presidential election.

4. Basil Rajapaksa - Accused of misusing Rs. 2.991 billion from Divinaguma funds to distribute roofing sheets for election campaigns.

5. Rajitha Senaratne - Accused of causing a financial loss to the government by leasing the Modara Fisheries Harbour at an undervalued price.

6. Ravi Karunanayake - Accused in connection with the 2016 Central Bank bond transactions and residing in a luxury apartment (penthouse) without paying rent.

7. Prasanna Ranatunga - Convicted for demanding Rs. 64 million from a businessman; sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for five years, and a fine of Rs. 25 million.

8. Priyankara Jayaratne - Accused of misusing Rs. 9.1 million belonging to the Civil Aviation Authority and making illegal appointments.

9. A.H.M. Fowzie - Accused of using a vehicle provided by the Netherlands to the Ministry of Disaster Management for personal use; convicted after pleading guilty.

10. Sarana Gunawardena - Accused of illegally renting vehicles and misusing government funds while serving as the head of the Development Lotteries Board; convicted.

11. Namal Rajapaksa - Money laundering charges related to an alleged Rs. 70 million received from the Krish Group in India.

12. Yoshitha Rajapaksa - Accused of illegally acquiring and using Rs. 234 million in the establishment of Carlton Sports Network (CSN).

13. Gotabaya Rajapaksa - Accused of using Rs. 33.9 million from the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation funds for the D.A. Rajapaksa monument.

14. Shiranthi Rajapaksa - Investigation into transactions related to the Siriliya Saviya Foundation and a Defender vehicle linked to the Thajudeen murder investigation.

15. Rohitha Rajapaksa - Accused of misusing government funds and state resources in connection with the SupremeSAT satellite project.

16. Chamal Rajapaksa - Complaint regarding the allocation of Ministry of Ports funds for projects without approval.

17. Shashindra Rajapaksa - Accused of illegally distributing government lands in Mahiyanganaya among his associates.

18. Jaliya Wickramasuriya - Accused of defrauding US$ 332,000 in the purchase of a building for the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington.

19. Udayanga Weeratunga - Accused of financial fraud exceeding US$ 7 million related to the purchase of MiG-27 aircraft.

20. Nirupama Rajapaksa - Investigation into offshore assets and foreign bank accounts identified through the Panama and Pandora Papers.

21. Lalith Weeratunga - Convicted for using Rs. 600 million from the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) funds for distributing 'sil redi' (white cloth for devotees) during the 2014 presidential election.

22. Anusha Pelpita - Accused of illegally using TRC funds in the 'sil redi' distribution case.

23. Pujith Jayasundara - Accused of failing to act on intelligence information received prior to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

24. Hemasiri Fernando - Accused of serious dereliction of duty in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks.

25. Arjuna Mahendran - Accused of improperly disclosing information and causing losses to the government during the February 2015 Central Bank bond auction.

26. Arjun Aloysius - Accused of engaging in illegal activities causing financial losses to the government in connection with Central Bank bond transactions.

27. Kasun Palisena - Accused of involvement in a conspiracy related to irregularities in Central Bank bond auctions.

28. Nalaka de Silva - Accused of conspiring to assassinate former President Maithripala Sirisena and former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

29. Jayantha Wickramaratne - Accused of destroying pages from a police information book related to the Lasantha Wickrematunge murder investigation.

30. Anura Senanayake - Accused of concealing evidence and falsely reporting Wasim Thajudeen's death as a road accident.

31. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake - Accused of a Rs. 16 million irregularity in the purchase of school uniform fabric under the Uva Provincial Council.

32. S.M. Ranjith Samarakoon - Convicted on charges of obtaining additional fuel while already receiving official fuel allowances.

33. Piyasena Gamage - Accused of transferring a Board of Investment land at an undervalued price.

34. Bandula Gunawardena - Accused of causing financial losses to the government through rice imports conducted via Sathosa.

35. Mahinda Homagama - Accused of illegally using Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment funds for promotional activities.

36. Roopavathi Ketheeswaran - Accused of illegally distributing dry rations and government funds while serving as Kilinochchi District Secretary.

37. Jayantha Fernando - Accused of defrauding Rs. 15 million in the purchase of medical equipment for the Police Hospital.

38. Geetha Kumarasinghe - Legal proceedings regarding holding a parliamentary seat with dual citizenship; lost her parliamentary seat due to a court ruling.

39. Rohitha Bogollagama - Accused of misusing Ministry of Foreign Affairs funds and official power.

40. Kumara Welgama - Accused of causing a loss of Rs. 3.2 million through an illegal appointment to the chairmanship of the Sri Lanka Transport Board.

41. Wasim Thajudeen Murder - Investigation into the death of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen and the destruction of evidence.

42. Lasantha Wickrematunge Murder - Investigation into the assassination of the editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper and the concealment of evidence.

43. Prageeth Ekneligoda Disappearance - Legal proceedings related to the abduction and enforced disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.

44. Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganandan - Investigation into their abduction and disappearance in Jaffna.

45. Keith Noyahr - Investigation into the abduction and assault of journalist Keith Noyahr.

46. Upali Tennakoon - Investigation into the assault and attempted murder of former Rivira newspaper editor Upali Tennakoon.

47. Ravindra Samaraweera - Accused of irregularities related to selling government rice stocks to the private sector at low prices.

48. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe - Complaint regarding influencing the Attorney General's Department's work in the Avant Garde investigation.

49. Nissanka Senadhipathi - Accused of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition through a private security company and financial losses of approximately Rs. 11.4 billion.

50. Thilan Wijesinghe - Accused of violating anti-bribery and corruption laws by awarding contracts for state development projects outside approved procedures.