PersonOn bail
Johnston Fernando
Listed from published reports. Appearing here is not a finding of wrongdoing. The custody or bail mark follows the dated status line below and may be out of date.
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Details
- Role
- Former Minister of Cooperative and Internal Trade; minister of roads, highways and ports from November 2019
- Status
- Corruption trial ordered to resume, August 2026; bailed in a second case, September 2026; on 28 October 2026 his lawyers told the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court he pleads guilty in a luxury BMW case, with the court’s decision due on 11 November 2026; he says the charges are three Motor Traffic Act offences and not import tax fraud; no verdict reported in the other cases
Coming court dates
- 11 Nov 2026
- Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court due to deliver its decision in the luxury vehicle case, after he told the court he pleads guilty
Connections (6)
- Johnston Fernando / Indicted in / CWE employees corruption caseAllegation
- He is alleged to have deployed CWE employees on duties unrelated to their jobs while Minister of Cooperative and Internal Trade. The Colombo High Court discharged him and two former CWE officials in May 2023 on a preliminary objection. On 4 August 2026 a five-judge Court of Appeal bench set that order aside and directed the trial to resume.4 Aug 2026 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · Appeal Court orders resumption of Johnston Fernando corruption trial
- Johnston Fernando / Suspect in; bailed September 2026 / Polgolla auditorium chairs caseAllegation
- He and the owner of Design Point (Pvt) Ltd are suspected of arranging for chairs for the Polgolla Mahinda Rajapaksa Auditorium to be bought from that company and not from the lowest qualifying bidder, causing a loss of Rs. 7.9 million. The Colombo Chief Magistrate released both on two sureties of Rs. 2.5 million each with a travel ban.4 Sep 2026 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · Johnston Fernando granted bail
- Johnston Fernando / Sworn in as minister by, November 2019 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Sworn in by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on 22 November 2019 as minister of roads and highways, and of ports and naval affairs.22 Nov 2019 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · New Cabinet sworn-in
- Johnston Fernando / Named in / List of 50 cases tabled in Parliament, 8 October 2026Allegation
- Johnston Fernando / Accused in / Sathosa employees political activity caseAllegation
- The Bribery Commission alleges that from 2010 to 2014, while he was Commerce Minister, he had Sathosa employees removed from their official duties and assigned to political activities, causing a loss to the government. On 14 October 2026 he and two co-accused appeared in the Colombo High Court, where Judge Mohamed Mihal ordered the case called again on the 28th. The article does not name the month. It says no evidence was recorded that day, and that the third accused, Mohamed Sakeer, was absent because he was ill and being treated in the prison hospital, being on remand in another case.14 Oct 2026 · Hiru News · Sathosa case against Johnston Fernando postponed until the 28th
- Johnston Fernando / Told the court he pleads guilty, October 2026, in / Luxury BMW possession case, Colombo Fort
- Appeared before the CID to give a statement about an unregistered BMW parked at a Colombo hotel, was arrested and brought before the Fort Magistrate, who remanded him until 30 October 2024.23 Oct 2024 · Hiru News · Former Minister Johnston Fernando remanded until October 30
- Through his lawyers he told the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on 28 October 2026 that he pleads guilty to charges relating to possessing a luxury BMW imported without paying the required taxes. The article’s headline calls it a tax fraud case. The CID says the vehicle was found at a Colombo hotel, that Customs confirmed a vehicle with its chassis number was not legally imported, that the Government Analyst’s Department found it was illegally assembled, and that its identifiers were linked to a car reported stolen in the UK in 2021. The article gives the arrest as 23 October without a year.28 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Johnston Fernando pleads guilty in luxury BMW tax fraud case
- Says he intends to plead guilty to charges relating to possession of a luxury vehicle imported without the applicable taxes, and to tax evasion, and that the court is scheduled to deliver its decision on 11 November 2026.28 Oct 2026 · Ada Derana · Johnston Fernando pleads guilty in luxury vehicle case; Verdict due on Nov. 11
- In a statement on 28 October 2026 he denied reports that he pleaded guilty to vehicle import tax fraud. He said only three charges had been filed against him, under the Motor Traffic Act, that he was not charged with importing or owning the vehicle or failing to pay import duty, that he is not its owner, and that a separate case against the person who had possession of it is before the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court. He urged media to correct their reports.28 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Johnston clarifies charges, denies involvement in vehicle import tax fraud
- Gives the same statement: three Motor Traffic Act charges, no charge of importing, owning or evading duty, and a separate Gampaha case against the person who had the vehicle. The article does not say which outlets he meant.28 Oct 2026 · Ada Derana · Johnston Fernando says media reports on luxury vehicle case are misleading