Corrupt Carrom shot sends top duo to jail

Friday, 30 May 2025 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Handcuffed duo Mahindananda Aluthgamage (left) and Nalin Fernando being escorted by Police yesterday following the verdict

– Pic by Sameera Wijesinghe

Mahindananda gets 20 years, Nalin Fernando 25 over Rs. 53 m financial fraud linked to import of Carrom boards and chequerboards for distribution to sports clubs during 2015 Presidential Election

The Colombo High Court yesterday sentenced former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage to 20 years and former Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment, after they were found guilty of causing millions of losses to the Government by importing Carrom boards and chequerboards for distribution to sports clubs during the 2015 Presidential Election.

The Bribery Commission filed the case, accusing both individuals of causing losses exceeding Rs. 50 million to the State by fraudulently purchasing 14,000 Carrom boards and 11,000 chequerboards under the guise of a sports promotion initiative.

Presenting facts before the Court, the prosecuting lawyer representing the Bribery Commission stated that the defendants had knowingly abused their official powers in 2014 by authorising the purchase of 14,000 Carrom boards and 11,000 chequerboards through Sathosa, a State-owned enterprise, leading to significant financial damage to public funds. She highlighted the deliberate nature of the offences, emphasising that the misuse of official authority resulted in a loss exceeding Rs. 53 million, which was collected from taxpayers.

The Court found that the purchases, made during Aluthgamage’s tenure as Sports Minister, were politically motivated and misused public funds.

She urged the Court to issue a firm judgment to serve as a deterrent against future corruption and to encourage those committed to combatting such offences.

In 2019, the Bribery Commission filed charges in the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar against Aluthgamage and Fernando, who is also a former Trade Minister.

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