Former Sri Lanka men’s captain Arjuna Ranatunga has been charged over corruption during his tenure as petroleum minister. On December 15, 2025, a court delivered its verdict, following which Sri Lankan authorities have reportedly planned to arrest the former skipper.
Both Ranatunga and his brother have been accused of changing the process for awarding long-term oil procurement contracts. According to a corruption watchdog, they instead made spot purchases at higher prices, which led to heavy losses.
As per reports by news agency AFP, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption told the court: “The total loss to the state from 27 purchases is 800 million rupees.”
Ranatunga’s elder brother, Dhammika Ranatunga, was the chairman of the state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation at the time. He was arrested on Monday but was later released on bail. However, the magistrate has imposed a travel ban on him as Dhammika holds dual citizenship of Sri Lanka and the United States.
Dhammika also represented Sri Lanka in four ODIs and two Tests, scoring 49 and 87 runs respectively. In First-Class cricket, he played 73 matches and scored 3,559 runs, including 16 fifties and five centuries.
Arjuna famously led Sri Lanka to their historic 1996 ODI World Cup triumph, defeating Australia in the final. The 62-year-old played 93 Tests, scoring 5,105 runs, and featured in 269 ODIs, where he amassed 7,456 runs. In First-Class cricket, he remains one of Sri Lanka’s finest, scoring 11,641 runs in 205 matches, including 63 fifties and 25 centuries.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for March 13, 2026.
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