There is a certain poetic irony when those who once stood at the podium of power, preaching governance, accountability, and public service, find themselves standing before a judge instead. Sri Lanka is no stranger to political drama, but the recent wave of legal proceedings against former ministers has sparked a fresh national conversation about morality, justice, and the blurred line between those who make the rules and those who break them. When preachers and sinners switch roles, the public watches with a mixture of outrage, resignation, and — perhaps most troublingly — familiarity.
The Ranatunga Case: A Fine Line Between Power and Abuse
The Colombo High Court recently made headlines when it granted former minister Prasanna Ranatunga until February 1, 2027, to settle the remaining Rs. 9 million of a staggering 25-million-rupee fine. The fine is connected to an extortion case rooted in a 2015 incident, where Ranatunga allegedly threatened a businessman with serious consequences in what prosecutors described as a blatant misuse of political influence. His conviction sent shockwaves through political circles, not merely because of who he is, but because of what his case represents — a senior political figure leveraging the machinery of power for personal and financial gain.
Ranatunga, once a prominent face in Sri Lankan politics and a minister who carried the weight of public trust, now carries the burden of a criminal conviction. The extended payment deadline granted by the court has itself drawn criticism from legal observers and civil society groups who question whether ordinary citizens would receive the same degree of leniency. It is a question worth asking: does the justice system bend differently when the accused once held a ministerial portfolio?
A Pattern Bigger Than One Politician
What makes the Ranatunga case particularly significant is that it does not stand alone. Across Sri Lanka's political landscape, several former ministers and high-profile public figures have found themselves on the wrong side of the law in recent months. The trend has prompted commentators to reflect on a deeper systemic issue — the culture of impunity that has long shielded those in power from meaningful accountability.
For decades, Sri Lankan voters have watched politicians campaign on platforms of anti-corruption and good governance, only to later discover that those same individuals were engaged in the very behaviors they publicly condemned. This role reversal — from moral authority to convicted offender — is not merely a personal failing. It is a symptom of a political culture that has historically prioritized loyalty, patronage, and self-preservation over genuine public service.
The Public Trust Deficit
Every conviction of a former minister chips away at something far more fragile than any individual reputation — it erodes public trust in democratic institutions. When citizens see those who drafted laws being prosecuted under those very laws, the message is deeply mixed. On one hand, it signals that no one is truly above the law. On the other hand, the slow pace of justice, the extended deadlines, and the perception of preferential treatment suggest that equality before the law remains an aspiration rather than a reality.
Sri Lanka is still recovering from one of its worst economic crises in modern history. The 2022 economic collapse, driven in large part by decades of poor governance and financial mismanagement, left millions of ordinary citizens struggling. Against that backdrop, news of former ministers being convicted of extortion — and then being given years to pay their fines in installments — strikes a particularly bitter chord with a public that had no such safety net during the crisis.
Accountability as a Political Turning Point
There is, however, a more optimistic reading of these developments. The fact that former ministers are being convicted at all represents a meaningful, if imperfect, shift in Sri Lanka's legal and political landscape. Courts are functioning. Cases are being heard. Verdicts are being delivered. For a country where powerful figures once seemed untouchable, each conviction — however delayed or imperfectly executed — marks a step toward a more accountable political culture.
Civil society organizations, anti-corruption advocates, and a younger generation of voters are increasingly demanding more. They are pushing for faster trials, stiffer penalties, and an end to the extended leniency that convicted politicians seem to enjoy. The pressure is mounting, and politicians across party lines would do well to take notice.
Conclusion: The Sermon Must Match the Life
When preachers become sinners, it is not just a personal tragedy — it is a public one. The citizens of Sri Lanka deserve leaders whose private conduct matches their public proclamations. The Ranatunga case, and others like it, serve as a stark reminder that power is a trust, not a privilege. Until political accountability becomes the norm rather than the exception, Sri Lanka's democracy will continue to wrestle with the uncomfortable truth that those who preach loudest are sometimes the least qualified to do so.