Sri Lanka Arrests Ex-President’s Son Namal Rajapaksa In $800,000 Airbus Probe

Namal Rajapaksa, son of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has been arrested over alleged corruption linked to a $2.3 billion Airbus deal involving SriLankan Airlines, with investigators probing an alleged $800,000 payment.

Rajapaksa, 40, was questioned for more than five hours by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on Friday before being arrested. Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S Bodaragama later rejected his bail plea and remanded him until September 18.

The investigation concerns a 2013 purchase of Airbus aircraft during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidency. The controversial deal involved plans to acquire 10 aircraft and was eventually cancelled in 2016 after a new government took office.

CIABOC told the court that around $800,000 was allegedly transferred through two Singapore bank accounts in connection with the deal. Investigators are examining whether money ultimately reached Namal through a Sri Lankan businessman. The case reportedly also involves allegations that Rs 100 million was paid to Rajapaksa in 2014 and 2015.

The probe gained fresh momentum after former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena told investigators in March that he had paid Rajapaksa about Rs 60 million, or roughly $461,000 at the time, in three instalments. Chandrasena later retracted the statement, claiming it had been made under pressure. He was found dead in May, shortly before authorities were expected to rearrest him. Police have treated his death as suspicious.

The Airbus connection has also been investigated internationally. US, British and French authorities found that Airbus had been involved in bribery allegations concerning aircraft sales and agreed in 2020 to pay about $4 billion in penalties to settle the case.

Namal, an opposition lawmaker and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) national organiser, has also denied wrongdoing. His arrest comes days before a planned September 12 opposition rally in Anuradhapura, with the SLPP alleging that the government is attempting to disrupt the event and weaken its campaign.