Former Civil Aviation Minister Piyankara Jayaratne has been sentenced to an effective seven-year term of imprisonment after being convicted by the Colombo High Court in a corruption case involving funds belonging to state-owned SriLankan Catering.
The judgment was delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Mohamed Mihail following a lengthy trial.
The case concerned a payment made from SriLankan Catering funds to a private catering provider in Marawila for food connected with supporters attending a United People's Freedom Alliance May Day event in 2014.
Reports differ slightly on the amount involved, placing it at approximately Rs. 320,000 to Rs. 330,000.
News 1st reported that the court imposed seven-year sentences on each of two charges and ordered that they be served concurrently. The resulting effective prison term is therefore seven years rather than fourteen years.
The same report said Jayaratne was also ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 200,000.
The prosecution case was brought by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.
The conviction represents a judicial finding following trial. Any subsequent appeal or other legal challenge should be reported separately if formally filed or determined.