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PersonConvictedIn custody

Sarana Gunawardena

The conviction mark reflects court convictions reported by the cited sources. Convictions can be appealed or overturned, and this entry may not show the latest position. The custody or bail mark follows the dated status line below and may be out of date.

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Details

Role

Former junior minister

Flagged for

Sentenced to 16 years by the High Court in June 2026

Status

Escorted to prison after sentencing on 9 June 2026, according to Ada Derana; filed four appeals in the Court of Appeal, reported 1 July 2026; no release reported. On 20 October 2026 his wife and another suspect were remanded until 30 October in the Bribery Commission’s inquiry into an alleged bribe offered over his sentence

Appears on

Politicians and investigators

Last checked

21 Oct 2026 (what this means)

Connections (4)

• Sarana Gunawardena / Junior minister under / Mahinda Rajapaksa
  • AFP: he served as a junior minister under Mahinda Rajapaksa, and was convicted on four charges, one of them financial misconduct, with four years on each for a total of 16 years.9 Jun 2026 · AFP (via The Peninsula) · Sri Lanka jails ex-minister in anti-graft drive
  • Reports that after the sentencing on 9 June 2026 he was escorted to prison by prison authorities, and that his lawyers said he intended to appeal.9 Jun 2026 · Ada Derana · Colombo HC hands 16 year rigorous imprisonment on Sarana Gunawardena
  • Reports that on 1 July 2026 he filed four appeals in the Court of Appeal against the 9 June judgment; it does not mention his custody or any bail.1 Jul 2026 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · Sarana Gunawardena files appeal against 16 years jail sentence
• Sarana Gunawardena / Named in / List of 50 cases tabled in Parliament, 8 October 2026Allegation
  • The list tabled in Parliament describes his case as alleged unlawful vehicle rentals and misuse of funds as Development Lotteries Board chairman, and records a conviction.8 Oct 2026 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · ‘Not political revenge’: Bimal tables 50 corruption, fraud and criminal cases in Parliament
• Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption / Investigating an alleged bribe offered over the sentence of / Sarana GunawardenaAllegation
  • According to the commission, his wife was arrested, accused of offering Rs. 50,000 to a Colombo High Court office assistant to secure a suspended sentence for him, and the registrar of the Minuwangoda Magistrate’s Court was then arrested, accused of aiding and abetting, as reported on 2 October 2026. The article says the High Court sentenced him in June to an effective 16 years in four cases over vehicle rentals at the Development Lotteries Board in 2006. It carries no response.2 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Court Registrar arrested over former MP’s wife’s bribe to secure husband’s release
  • Reports that on 20 October 2026 the Colombo Chief Magistrate remanded two suspects, including his wife, until 30 October, and released the third suspect, the Registrar of the Minuwangoda Magistrate’s Court, on two personal bails of Rs. 1 million each. It repeats that they allegedly offered a bribe to a High Court office assistant to influence a judge into giving him a suspended sentence. The article carries no response from them.20 Oct 2026 · News 1st · Sarana Gunawardena’s Wife Further Remanded Until October 30
• Sarana Gunawardena / Accused in / Further bribery case against Sarana GunawardenaAllegation
  • Hiru News reports that the Court of Appeal issued an interim injunction preventing further steps in another bribery case against him, which is being heard in Colombo High Court No. 11, after a petition he filed through his lawyers. The order came from a bench of Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando. The article gives no case number, charge, amount, duration of the injunction or next hearing date.14 Oct 2026 · Hiru News · Interim injunction issued to prevent further action in bribery case against Sarana