Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka’s World Cup-Winning Captain, to Be Arrested on Corruption Charges

Arjuna Ranatunga, the world cup-winning captain of Sri Lanka will face arrest over corruption allegations over the period when he served as a petroleum minister, a court was told on Monday, the news agency, AFP reported. A corruption watchdog has accused Ranatunga and his brother of altering the process of getting long-term oil procurement contracts, and spot purchases of a higher cost.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption estimates the total loss to the state of 27 purchases to have been in the order of 800 million rupees, which is USD 5 million. It should be noted that the transactions took place in 2017.

Also Read: Lionel Messi’s Tour Concludes With a Bang in Delhi; Jay Shah Invites Him for India’s Opening Match in T20 World Cup

The commission has already directed the Colombo Magistrate, Asanga Bodaragama, that Arjuna was away and he would be arrested on re-entering the country.

The younger brother of Ranatunga, Dhammika a chairman of a state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has been already arrested. He was arrested on Monday behind bars but was later bailed out.

The magistrate has placed a travel ban on Dhammika. The brother of Arjuna Ranatunga is a Sri Lankan-American dual citizen. News agency AFP reveals that the following hearing will be held on March 13, 2026.

The prosecution of Ranatunga and his brother is one of the elements of a crackdown by the current government, which took power in 2024. The government had pledged to end endemic corruption when it was safely elected into power by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Previously, the former tourism minister, Ranatunga brother, Prasanna was also arrested over an insurance fraud case. The case is still pending, although he was earlier on June 2022 found guilty of extorting money out of a businessman.

Also Read: Donations Cross $1.1 Million for Bondi Beach ‘Hero’ Ahmed al Ahmed Who Disarmed Shooter

The legend of Ranatunga

At his best Ranatunga was a very popular left-handed batsman of 62 years who won the World Cup in 1996, when the Islanders defeated Australia in the final match.

Ranatunga has represented himself in 93 Tests and 269 ODIs, and in both, he has scored over 10,000 runs. Sri Lanka had also become the first team to win a Test series in England under his leadership as captain.

He featured in the 100th Test match of Sri Lanka in June 2000 becoming the only player to have played in the first and hundredth Test match of his country. At last he retired his Test career in 2001.

Also Read: Dhurandhar Box Office Collection Day 11 (Live): Ranveer Singh Film Crosses ₹360 Crore, Beats PK