Ravi Karunanayake arrested by Bribery Commission
Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) at around 1:40 PM today (August 31) over allegations of corruption linked to the recruitment of three individuals to the National Lotteries Board.
Karunanayake arrived at the Bribery Commission at around 8:15 AM today after being summoned by investigators.
He was questioned for several hours and a statement was recorded before CIABOC investigating officers placed him under arrest.
The investigation relates to the period when Karunanayake served as Minister of Finance from January 12, 2015, to May 22, 2017.
Investigators allege that Karunanayake, together with then National Lotteries Board Chairman Shyamila Perera, recruited three individuals to the Board on a contract basis.
The three individuals were recruited as two Coordinating Officers and one Management Assistant under what was described as a “special project” of the Ministry of Finance.
Their salaries were to be paid using funds belonging to the National Lotteries Board.
However, investigators allege that the three individuals did not provide any services to the National Lotteries Board, despite receiving salaries and allowances paid by the Board.
Karunanayake was arrested over allegations of committing the offence of corruption under Section 70 of the Bribery Act, as amended by Act No. 20 of 1994.
He is due to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
Former National Lotteries Board Chairman Shyamila Perera has also faced legal action in connection with the same investigation. Perera was previously arrested over the case and was later released on bail on June 30, 2026.
UPDATE – 05:27 PM:
Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), has been released on bail.
He was granted bail after being produced before the Colombo Additional Magistrate this afternoon (August 31).
The court also imposed a travel ban on Karunanayake.