Rajapaksa's Son Arrested In Corruption Investigation, Court Grants Bail

Sri Lanka's anti-corruption watchdog on Wednesday arrested Yoshitha Rajapaksa , son of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa , over alleged irregularities in his recruitment and training in the Sri Lanka Navy, before a court granted him bail and imposed a foreign travel ban pending further investigations.

Yoshitha, a former naval officer and the second of Mahinda Rajapaksa's three sons, appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) after being summoned to record a statement. Following several hours of questioning, investigators placed him under arrest.

According to CIABOC, the probe focuses on his admission to the Sri Lanka Navy in 2006. Investigators allege that Yoshitha was appointed to the Navy's executive branch without meeting the required qualifications and was subsequently sent for officer training at Britain's Royal Naval College using state funds outside established recruitment procedures. Authorities have also accused him of aiding and abetting acts amounting to corruption in relation to the appointment and training process.

After being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court , Yoshitha was released on bail. Local media reported that the court imposed a foreign travel ban and required personal sureties while the investigation continues.

The arrest adds to mounting legal troubles for the influential Rajapaksa family. Yoshitha is already an accused in money-laundering cases linked to property transactions and was previously granted bail. He was already subject to travel restrictions in those proceedings.

The case comes as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's government intensifies investigations into alleged corruption and abuse of power involving prominent figures from previous administrations, including several members of the Rajapaksa family. The arrest is being viewed as part of the government's broader anti-corruption drive aimed at addressing long-standing allegations of misconduct by former political leaders.