The controversial electricity supply to Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa’s wedding ceremony in 2019 was illegally arranged under the direct instructions of then Minister of Power and Energy Ravi Karunanayake, the Supreme Court (SC) was told today (11). It was also revealed that MP D.V Chanaka had made the request to then Minister Karunanayaeke to provide the electricity.
It was also revealed that it was after 4 years that the amount had been settled to the CEB, by Royalco Aqua Culture (Pvt.) Ltd., an unknown third party, and that too, after the institution of the Fundamental Rights Application. It was argued on behalf of the Petitioner that the entire transaction reeks of abuse of power and corruption.
The revelation came when a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition over the alleged unpaid electricity bill was taken up before Chief Justice, Preethi Padman Surasena and SC Judge, Justice Achala Wengappuli.
The court granted permission to proceed with the case, with hearings scheduled for 17 March, 2026.
Attorney-at-Law Vijitha Kumara had filed the petition, requesting a comprehensive investigation into MP Namal Rajapaksa’s alleged unsettled electricity bill of over Rs. 2.6 million.
Representing the petitioner, attorneys Thishya Weragoda and Dinithi Prasadini appeared on instructions from Tamila Perera. Attorney Pasindu Silva appeared on behalf of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), while President’s Counsel Palitha Kumarasinghe represented former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Deputy Solicitor General Uresha de Silva appeared on behalf of the Attorney General and Auditor General.
The petition claimed that electricity was provided to illuminate a 1.5 km-long road leading to a private house, following a request by MP D.V. Chanaka to the then Minister Karunanayake. CEB officials were instructed to provide the supply temporarily, with the understanding that the Rajapaksa family would settle the bill later. The supply, including security lights and generators installed at the former President’s residence in Weeraketiya from 12 to 15 September, 2019, cost Rs. 2,682,246.57. The petitioner emphasised that this arrangement constituted misuse of state power and amounted to an illegal supply of electricity.
The petition also pointed out that ordinary citizens face power cuts over bills as small as Rs. 7,390, arguing that such preferential treatment violated Article 12 (1) of the Constitution, which states that all persons are equal before the law and are entitled to the equal protection of the law. The petitioner sought the court’s direction to have the CEB present all files related to the electricity provision and a declaration that current and former CEB officials, including its Chairmen, had misused their authority.
It was also revealed that a private company, an unrelated party, had reportedly settled the bill. The CEB stated it acted according to instructions received, while the attorney representing former President Rajapaksa informed that his client had never received the bill and that a third party had made the payment on his behalf.
After considering the submissions, the SC granted permission for the case to proceed.
(B)
