Sri Lanka, June 9 -- Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has filed an appeal before the Supreme Court challenging the 20-year rigorous imprisonment sentence handed down by the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar.

The appeal, submitted by Aluthgamage's legal team today, contests his conviction over allegations that he caused a loss of Rs. 53 million to the state by importing carrom boards in 2014.

On May 29, the court sentenced former Sports Minister Aluthgamage to 20 years and former Lanka Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment. The ruling relates to a corruption case linked to the importation of sports equipment during the lead-up to the 2015 Presidential Election.

The Bribery Commission, which...