Four Customs officials sentenced to 35 years for largest bribery scandal in Sri Lanka’s history

• In addition to the 35-year prison term, each accused was ordered to pay a fine of Rs.125 million

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

Four former senior customs officials found guilty in connection with the largest-ever recorded bribe nabbed by the Bribery Commission in Sri Lanka were sentenced yesterday to 35 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court.   

The Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption filed indictments against former Assistant Customs Superintendent Upali Gunaratne Perera, Customs Superintendent Wasantha Wimalaweera, Customs Superintendent Upali Senarath Wickremasinghe, and Customs Superintendent Sudeera Parakrama Jinadasa for allegedly soliciting a bribe of Rs.150 million and accepting Rs.125 million to release a consignment of spare parts worth Rs.1,500 million, imported for use by the SLTB, by evading duty.   

In addition to the 35-year prison term, each accused was ordered by High Court Judge Namal Balalle to pay a fine of Rs.125 million.   

The Bribery Commission filed indictments against the accused on 14 counts. The prosecution further alleged that the four accused had committed these offences on or around June 26, 2015, under section 11 of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption Act No. 19 of 1994.