Colombo, July 31 — Former Sri Lankan cabinet minister Johnston Fernando appeared in court today alongside two former officials, facing allegations of abusing state resources during his time in office. The case relates to claims that Fernando misused employees of Lanka Sathosa, a state-run retail network, for political work while serving as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade.
The prosecution, led by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, alleges that between 2010 and 2014, Fernando directed over 150 Sathosa staff to carry out work related to political campaigns and events. This redirection of public servants away from their official duties is said to have caused a loss of more than eleven million rupees to the state.
Alongside Fernando, two others were charged — Eraj Fernando, who served as the Chairman of Lanka Sathosa at the time, and Mohamed Zakir, a former coordinating secretary to the minister. All three denied the charges and were granted bail following their appearance.
During the court proceedings, a former payroll officer testified that instructions to deploy Sathosa employees to political events came directly from senior officials. The defence argued that the case lacked sufficient legal grounds and challenged the reliability of the evidence presented.
This case, which has experienced several delays over the years, remains a focal point in the broader conversation about political accountability and public sector misuse in Sri Lanka. Johnston Fernando, who has held multiple ministerial portfolios and remains an influential political figure, has previously faced scrutiny over similar matters.
The court scheduled the next hearing for mid-August, with further witness testimonies expected.
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