CIMA to Remove Rajiv Amarasuriya from Membership? Questions of Integrity and Reputation Surface Following BMW Duty Fraud
By Legal Correspondent
August 31, 2026
The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) is facing a defining moment as calls intensify for it to revoke the membership of prominent attorney and Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) President, Rajiv Amarasuriya. The controversy, rooted in the high-profile "BMW case" involving an alleged Rs. 16 billion import duty fraud, raises serious questions about Mr. Amarasuriya's adherence to CIMA's core ethical principles of integrity, accountability, and truthful accounting .
The BMW Case and Allegations of Misconduct
The case involves the alleged illegal importation of 1,728 BMW vehicles under concessionary duty permits meant for public officials, with the vehicles reportedly not actually imported by the permit holders . This scheme is said to have defrauded the state of approximately Rs. 16 billion in tax revenue . Critics argue that financial documents presented in court on behalf of the local agent of BMW contradict the professional guidelines CIMA mandates for its members regarding truthful financial reporting.
Did Rajeev Know He Was Submitting Fake Invoices?
Central to this controversy is the question of Mr. Amarasuriya's knowledge regarding the authenticity of the documents he presented. Reports indicate that the BMW local agent submitted invoices that undervalued the vehicles, resulting in significantly less import duty being paid than what was legally required . Crucially, sources suggest that the original invoices provided by BMW AG itself showed the correct valuation, exposing a discrepancy .
The question then arises: Did Mr. Amarasuriya know that the invoices he was submitting to the courts were fake? As a Fellow Member of CIMA (UK), he is held to the highest standards of conduct, which expressly prohibit being associated with misleading reports . The CIMA Code of Ethics, under the fundamental principle of integrity, states that a professional accountant "shall not knowingly be associated with reports, returns, communications or other information where the accountant believes that the information contains a materially false or misleading statement" .
The Call for Revocation and Reputational Risk
With these allegations, many argue that CIMA must act to protect its integrity. If CIMA fails to revoke Mr. Amarasuriya's membership, it risks losing credibility not only in Sri Lanka but internationally. There is a growing sentiment that inaction would signal to tax authorities in the UK, Australia, and other countries that CIMA does not enforce its own ethical standards, potentially subjecting thousands of its members to scrutiny. The question being posed is whether CIMA will choose to uphold its values or become an organization that sacrifices its international reputation.
The CIMA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
CIMA's Code of Ethics is clear: members must observe the highest standards of conduct and integrity and refrain from any conduct that might discredit the profession . By allegedly being associated with financial representations in the BMW case that misrepresent import duties, critics contend that Mr. Amarasuriya has breached these essential guidelines. The code explicitly covers "discreditable behaviour," which includes negligently making, or permitting or directing another to make, "materially false and misleading entries in the financial statements or records of an entity" .
Political Allegations and the Retirement Age Controversy
Adding
another layer to this controversy, accusations have surfaced that Mr.
Amarasuriya's opposition to the government's proposal to extend the retirement
age of judges is politically motivated rather than rooted in principle.
National People's Power (NPP) MP Asitha Niroshana Egodavithana alleged in
Parliament that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa had promised Mr. Amarasuriya
the Chief Ministerial candidacy for the Western Province in exchange for his
support in opposing the judicial retirement age extension. This claim has been
vehemently denied by both Mr. Amarasuriya, who dismissed it as "utterly
false and baseless" and challenged anyone to repeat the accusation outside
parliamentary privilege, and Opposition Leader Premadasa, who called it
fabricated and politically motivated. Nevertheless, the allegation has fueled
further scrutiny of the BASL President's actions, raising questions about
whether the professional organization is being used to advance personal
political interests rather than uphold the integrity of the legal profession.
The BASL has maintained its opposition to the proposed constitutional
amendment, arguing that it threatens judicial independence and should be
subject to a national referendum, but the political backdrop to its campaign
has complicated the public narrative around this significant constitutional
debate.
BASL Presidency and Broader Concerns
As the newly elected President of BASL, Mr. Amarasuriya holds a position of significant public trust . However, his alleged actions in the BMW case raise concerns about his fitness to lead the legal profession, especially given his public stances on issues like judicial reform . Observers question whether a BASL President who is accused of acting against the interests of Sri Lankan taxpayers has the moral authority to preach about increasing the retirement age of judges .
The coming weeks will be critical for both CIMA and Mr. Amarasuriya. If a formal complaint is lodged and an investigation is initiated, the outcome could determine his future as a CIMA member and potentially reshape public perception of both the accounting and legal professions in Sri Lanka. CIMA now has a choice: remove Mr. Amarasuriya and protect its integrity, or risk becoming an organization that has lost its way on the world stage.