Namal Rajapaksa remanded in SriLankan Airbus graft case

Namal Rajapaksa was remanded after anti-graft investigators questioned him over the SriLankan Airlines Airbus deal. The case sharpens scrutiny of the Rajapaksa family and has triggered opposition claims of political targeting.

In Short

• Anti-graft officials questioned him for over five hours before court production
• Investigators allege he received USD 800,000 from Airbus purchase commissions
• He is the first Rajapaksa family member jailed since NPP took office

Namal Rajapaksa, a leader of Sri Lanka's opposition Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and the elder son of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, was arrested on Friday by the country's anti-graft commission over alleged corruption linked to the purchase of Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.

After more than five hours of questioning by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, Rajapaksa, 40, was produced before Magistrate Asanga S Boderagama. The Colombo magistrate remanded him till September 18, officials said.

Rajapaksa had been asked to appear before the commission earlier in the day. The questioning was based on information that he had benefited by USD 800,000 from the purchase of wide-bodied Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines during his father's presidency, when commissions were deposited into various bank accounts.

Officials said this was the first time a member of the former Rajapaksa first family had been remanded since the National People's Power government came to power two years ago. His cousin, Shashindra Rajapaksa, is currently on bail after being remanded earlier this year.

Namal Rajapaksa had announced plans to organise the first of a major anti-government public rally on September 12 in Anuradhapura. The SLPP claimed that his remand was part of the government's plan to scuttle the rally and his opposition campaign against the government. His siblings are also facing various charges of wrongdoing, which they claim are political witch hunts.

Friday's arrest and remand came after the anti-graft commission arrested Johnston Fernando, a former Cabinet member in Rajapaksa governments between 2005 and 2023. He was charged with misusing public funds to install seating at a conference hall named after Mahinda Rajapaksa in Kandy. The developments mark the latest action in cases involving figures linked to the Rajapaksa family.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends