• Trial-at-Bar finds both guilty of misappropriation in carrom and draughts boards deal.

Former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Trade Minister Nalin Fernando were today (29)sentenced to rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar over their involvement in a major public sector corruption case linked to sports equipment procurement.

A special three-judge bench comprising Justices Pradeep Hettiarachchi, Pradeep Abeyratne, and Mahesh Weeraman ruled that the charges were proven beyond reasonable doubt.

Aluthgamage received a 10-year sentence, while Fernando was handed a 25-year sentence following their conviction on six counts under Section 70 of the Bribery Act.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) brought forward the case, accusing the two of misappropriating Rs. 53.1 million during their ministerial tenure between 1 September and 31 December 2014.

According to the indictment, the funds were misused during the importation of 14,000 carrom boards and 11,000 draughts boards intended for distribution to local sports clubs.

The verdict marks a rare and high-profile conviction of former cabinet ministers on corruption charges.