Ravi Karunanayake arrested over National Lotteries Board allegations

Former Sri Lankan Finance Minister and Colombo District MP Ravi Karunanayake was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) following questioning regarding the National Lotteries Board.

The investigation centers on allegations that individuals were recruited to the National Lotteries Board outside of approved procedures and were subsequently assigned to duties related to Karunanayake’s personal staff. Authorities are examining whether public funds were used to pay salaries for personnel who were not performing the functions for which they were officially employed.

During his appearance before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, Karunanayake’s legal team sought bail, citing several serious health conditions including uncontrolled diabetes, sleep apnoea, cellulitis, and a heart condition requiring multiple stents. Medical reports from Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore were submitted to the court.

Colombo Additional Magistrate Liyan Warusavithana released Karunanayake on two surety bails of Rs. 1 million each and imposed a ban on overseas travel. The case is scheduled to be heard again on November 3.