No Leniency for Corrupt Public Officials, Says High Court; 16 Years for Misuse of Public Funds

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Colombo High Court has sentenced former North Central Province Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith and his Sister-in-Law, Shanthi Chandrasena, to 16 years of rigorous imprisonment for corruption.

The judgement was delivered by Colombo High Court Chief Judge Aditya Patabendi, following a case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

S.M. Ranjith served as the Chief Minister of the North Central Province from September 25, 2012, to January 20, 2015.

During this period, he illegally provided over Rs 2.6 million through fuel orders to his personal secretary, Shanthi Chandrasena, despite an existing fuel allowance included in her salary.

The Bribery Commission filed the case in November 2021, citing six charges, including the misuse of government resources and coercion of government officials.

After a lengthy trial, the judge concluded that the prosecution had proven the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

The court found that the defendants had misused 16,784 liters of fuel, violating the Bribery Act.

Before sentencing, the Bribery Commission's attorney highlighted that S.M. Ranjith, as an elected public representative, had misused public funds in a district with a predominantly farming population.

Translation Of Quoted Statement By The Attorney:

"Anuradhapura District is relatively underdeveloped, with the majority of its population being farmers. The defendants, as public representatives in such a region, engaged in corrupt activities by misusing public funds. In 2012, the value of the misused funds exceeded Rs 2.6 million, and their current value is even higher. Your Honor, considering the severity of these charges, we request that the defendants be given appropriate punishments."

End Of Translation Of Quoted Statement.

In defense, Attorney-at-Law Darshana Kuruppu argued that the offense occurred in 2012 and that the defendants had fully cooperated with the trial. He requested leniency in sentencing.

Quote From High Court Verdict:

"This case reveals an economic crime. The first defendant, elected as a public representative, is accountable to the public and committed to serving their needs. Corrupt activities have detrimental effects on the country's economy. Recently, our nation faced a severe economic crisis, causing significant hardship for our people. Such corrupt actions contribute to these economic challenges. Therefore, the court cannot show leniency towards public representatives, government officials, and judicial officers facing such charges. They must be given the maximum penalties allowed by law."

End Of Quote From High Court Verdict.

Consequently, the court sentenced both defendants to 16 years of rigorous imprisonment.

S.M. Ranjith is the brother of former Minister S.M. Chandrasena, and Shanthi Chandrasena is the wife of S.M. Chandrasena.