Sri Lanka’s former cricket captain and 1996 World Cup hero, Arjuna Ranatunga faces oil scam arrest in connection with a high-profile corruption case, officials told Colombo Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama.
The case involves alleged financial irregularities during Ranatunga’s tenure as petroleum minister, marking a dramatic turn for one of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated sports icons.
Authorities say Ranatunga, along with his brother Dhammika Ranatunga, is accused of bypassing standard procedures for oil procurement.
Instead of securing long-term contracts, the brothers allegedly executed spot purchases, leading to inflated costs. Investigators estimate that these 27 transactions caused the state a loss of roughly 800 million Sri Lankan rupees (around $5 million).
Court Proceedings and Arrest Plans
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) informed the court that Ranatunga is currently abroad and will be arrested immediately upon his return.
Dhammika Ranatunga, who served as chairman of the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, was already arrested in connection with the case but has since been released on bail.
A travel ban has been imposed on him, citing his dual citizenship in Sri Lanka and the United States. The next hearing is scheduled for March 13, 2026.
Family’s Legal History
This is not the first legal challenge for the Ranatunga family. Another brother, Prasanna Ranatunga, a former tourism minister, was previously arrested in an insurance fraud case and convicted in June 2022 for extortion. Other proceedings against him are still ongoing.
Cricket Hero to Political Controversy
At 62, Ranatunga remains a revered figure in Sri Lankan cricket, having scored over 10,000 international runs across 93 Tests and 269 ODIs.
He famously led Sri Lanka to its first-ever World Cup victory in 1996 and achieved historic overseas wins, including a Test series triumph in England.
After retiring from cricket, he transitioned into politics, holding several key ministerial portfolios. However, the current allegations have cast a shadow over his public life, raising questions about governance and accountability.
Part of a Wider Anti-Corruption Drive
Officials say the case is part of a broader anti-corruption crackdown by Sri Lanka’s government, which came to power in 2024.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pledged during the election campaign to tackle endemic corruption and ensure accountability for powerful figures. Investigators emphasize that their probe relies on documentary evidence and financial records, rather than preliminary allegations.
The unfolding case is being closely watched nationwide, representing both a test of the government’s anti-corruption resolve and a reckoning for a former national hero facing serious legal scrutiny.
