Ex-Chief Minister, private secretary sentenced to 16 years RI for corruption

Thursday, 3 April 2025 05:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Former North Central Province Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith

The Colombo High Court yesterday sentenced former North Central Province Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith and his private secretary Shanthi Chandrasena to 16 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) after they were found guilty of corruption charges.

Delivering the verdict, Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabendi ruled that the two convicts also be fined Rs. 200,000 each. The Judge also announced that if the fine is not paid, a sentence of two years’ imprisonment with additional RI will be imposed.

The Court issued this verdict after hearing six charges filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against the two defendants under the Bribery Act, against two of which they were found guilty.

The CIABOC alleged that First Accused Ranjith, while serving as the North Central Province Chief Minister, had made arrangements to allocate fuel for the official vehicle of Chandrasena despite her fuel allowance being already added to her salary.

Ranjith is the brother of former Anuradhapura district Minister S.M. Chandrasena, while Shanthi Chandrasena is his wife.

Shanthi served as the Private Secretary to Chief Minister Ranjith during his tenure from 2012 to 2014. The CIABOC noted that they allegedly obtained 16,784 litres of fuel worth Rs. 2,680,528 and Rs. 5,379,623 through vouchers during this period.

Both Ranjith and his brother’s wife Shanthi have also been charged with influencing Provincial Councillors to release two additional vehicles, in addition to the Chief Minister’s two official cars and security vehicle.

The Colombo High Court Judge also announced that the convicts can challenge the verdict in the Court of Appeal.

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