Former North Central Province Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith and his private secretary, Shanti Chandresna, were sentenced to 16 years of rigorous imprisonment by Colombo High Court Judge Adithya Patabendige today (02).
The duo was found guilty of illegally obtaining a fuel allowance of Rs. 2,080,500 during Ranjith’s tenure as Chief Minister between 2012 and 2014.
The Bribery Commission filed the case, and indictments were served on April 3, 2023. Following the trial, the court determined that the charges against the defendants were proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
S.M. Ranjith and his brother, former Minister S.M. Chandrasena, are prominent members of the Sarvajana Balaya Party.