Sri Lankan cricket legend and former Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga is facing imminent arrest over serious corruption allegations linked to his time in office. The national hero, who captained Sri Lanka to an unforgettable World Cup victory in 1996, is accused of involvement in a tender process that allegedly caused a staggering loss of 800 million Sri Lankan rupees to the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC).
The Allegations and Court Proceedings
Legal proceedings have already commenced, with Ranatunga's brother, Dhammika RanatungaRs. 1 million. The court issued a strict warning against him attempting to influence witnesses.
The case was presented to the court by Anusha Sammandapperuma, the assistant director of legal affairs representing Sri Lanka's Bribery Commission. The central allegation is that three long-term tenders for fuel procurement for the CPC for the years 2017–2018 were cancelled. Subsequently, the decision to move forward with spot tenders at significantly higher prices is what purportedly led to the massive financial loss for the corporation.
Arrest Warrants and International Travel
While his brother has faced the court, Arjuna Ranatunga himself has so far avoided legal custody because he is currently overseas. The legal counsel for the Bribery Commission informed the court that Ranatunga could not be arrested due to his foreign travel and explicitly requested the court's intervention to ensure his remand upon return or through other means. The counsel sought an official order for his arrest, citing the ongoing nature of the investigations.
A Stark Fall from Grace
This scandal marks a profound fall from grace for one of Sri Lanka's most revered sporting icons. Ranatunga's image has long been that of a principled leader, both on and off the cricket field. In a poignant contrast to the current allegations, he once shared a story from 2010 about his mother's unwavering ethics.
He recalled how, after earning just 250 rupees for his first Test match, a tea company offered him 250,000 rupees for a commercial advertisement. His mother famously told the company, "My son is not for sale." Later, she advised him, "Son, remember, never ever sell your talent and face for anything." Ranatunga stated he had only ever done three advertisements, all for free, to support a General Hospital, a polio drive, and a garbage disposal campaign.
The current allegations of causing an 800 million rupee loss to a state entity stand in stark contradiction to this carefully cultivated narrative of integrity, plunging the cricket legend into the deepest controversy of his life.
