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COLOMBO—Arjuna Ranatunga, the legendary captain who led Sri Lanka to its historic 1996 Cricket World Cup victory, is facing an imminent arrest. The 62-year-old cricketing icon turned politician has been named a primary suspect in a high-profile corruption case involving a loss of 800 million Sri Lankan rupees (approximately ₹23.5 crore or $5 million) to the state.
The allegations date back to 2017, during Ranatunga’s tenure as the Federal Minister of Petroleum Resources Development.
The ‘Spot Purchase’ Scandal
According to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), Ranatunga and his brother, Dhammika Ranatunga, allegedly bypassed standard operating procedures for fuel procurement.
The commission informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that:
- Three scheduled long-term oil tenders were abruptly cancelled.
- In their place, 27 “spot purchases” were made at significantly inflated prices.
- This shift in procurement strategy reportedly caused a massive financial drain on the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). A Family Under Fire
The legal net has already tightened around the Ranatunga family. Dhammika Ranatunga, who served as the Chairman of the CPC during his brother’s ministerial term, was arrested on Monday. He has since been released on bail with a strict travel ban, as he holds dual citizenship with the United States.
The crackdown is part of a broader anti-corruption drive by the government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who assumed office on a platform of purging systemic graft. Notably, another brother, Prasanna Ranatunga, was also arrested last month in a separate insurance fraud case.
Where is Arjuna?
While the court has been informed that steps are underway to take the former captain into custody, the arrest has been delayed because Ranatunga is currently overseas. Authorities have stated that he will be apprehended immediately upon his return to Sri Lanka.
For many fans, the news is a shocking “fall from grace” for a man who remains a national hero for his defiance and leadership on the cricket field. The next court hearing for the case is scheduled for March 13, 2026.
