Colombo, April 2 -- Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabendi today sentenced former North Central Province Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith and his private secretary Shanthi Chandrasena - the spouse of former Minister S.M. Chandrasena - to 16 years of rigorous imprisonment after being found guilty of corruption charges.

In addition to their prison sentences, both convicts were ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 200,000 each.

The two accused were convicted on charges filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), specifically for committing acts of 'corruption.'

The case was initiated based on allegations that between September 27, 2012, and December 31, 2014, S.M. Ranjith, while serving as Chief Minister of...