The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, in relation to a bribery case involving the payment of rent for a luxury apartment by Arjun Aloysius.

Karunanayake had appealed to the Supreme Court, challenging a case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) before the Colombo High Court. The case alleges that during his tenure as Finance Minister, Karunanayake resided in a luxury apartment for which the rent was paid by Arjun Aloysius, the head of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd.

The monthly rent for the apartment was Rs. 1.45 million, and Aloysius is reported to have covered eight months’ worth of rent on behalf of Karunanayake.

Based on this, the Bribery Commission has filed indictments against Karunanayake in the Colombo High Court. His legal team argued that a case cannot be maintained against a minister under the Bribery Act in this context. However, the High Court rejected that argument.

Karunanayake then sought to challenge the High Court’s decision before the Supreme Court. But the Supreme Court has now rejected his petition, stating that an appeal to the Supreme Court can only be entertained if the High Court convicts the accused.