The Supreme Court today (28) scheduled a date to hear the appeals filed against the sentences imposed on former Ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Nalin Fernando, who were convicted and sentenced by the Colombo High Court three-judge bench in connection with a corruption charge.
Accordingly, the Supreme Court will hear the appeals on January 20, 2026, Ada Derana reporter said.
The appeals were called before a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Justice Kumudini Wickremasinghe and Justice Achala Wengappuli.
When the matter was taken up, the State Counsel appearing on behalf of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) informed court that the relevant case files had not yet been received.
President’s Counsels Nalin Ladduwahetty and Ali Sabry, appearing for the petitioners, also informed court that they had not yet received the case documents related to the appeals.
The Chief Justice, presiding over the bench, directed court officials to ensure that the relevant case files are promptly provided to both the appellants and the Bribery Commission.
The bench further ordered that the appeals be recalled on January 20, 2026 for confirmation of the documents and further submissions.
At the time the appeals were taken up, the two former ministers—who are currently serving prison sentences—were produced before open court by prison officials.
The case was filed by the Bribery Commission, alleging that during the 2015 Presidential Election period, the two former ministers had imported 14,000 carrom boards and 1,000 checkers boards through Lanka Sathosa and distributed them among campaign offices of then-presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa, thereby causing a loss exceeding Rs. 53 million to the government.
Following the trial, the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar found both former ministers guilty.
Former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment while former Minister Nalin Fernando was sentenced to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment.
The two former ministers have now filed appeals before the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn their convictions and be acquitted of all charges.
