Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa was arrested on Friday (4) by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) in connection with an alleged Rs. 100 million bribery transaction tied to an aircraft procurement deal involving SriLankan Airlines. He was subsequently remanded until 18 September after being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
Arrest Following CIABOC Investigation
CIABOC confirmed that Rajapaksa was taken into custody at 2:09 p.m., following an extensive investigation into funds allegedly paid as bribes during the national carrier’s aircraft acquisition process.
According to investigators, a total of €1,454,651.24 had been channelled into an account at Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore, under the name BIZ Solutions Inc. Of that amount, US$800,000 was reportedly transferred to an account at OCBC Bank, Singapore, held under Sabre Vision Holdings Ltd, a company owned by a Sri Lankan businessman.
CIABOC alleges that the businessman subsequently paid Rs. 100 million to Rajapaksa on several occasions between 2014 and 2015, corresponding to the funds received overseas.
Basis of the Allegations
Investigators say the case is supported by:
- statements from the Sri Lankan businessman involved in the transaction
- testimony provided to CIABOC by officials from Airbus in France
- documentary evidence and financial records obtained during the probe
These materials, CIABOC states, form the foundation of the bribery allegations linked to the aircraft procurement deal.
Events Leading to the Arrest
Rajapaksa appeared before CIABOC on Friday morning after the Commission rejected his request to postpone the summons. Although he initially asked to appear on 3 September, and CIABOC agreed, he later informed the Commission—through a letter from his lawyer Muditha R. Lokumudali—that he would only be available after 25 September.
CIABOC declined the request and notified him via WhatsApp that he must appear on the originally scheduled date. The Commission also warned that legal action would follow if he failed to comply.
Rajapaksa arrived at CIABOC headquarters at 9:15 a.m., briefly addressing the media before entering the premises. He stated that he had “done nothing wrong” and was prepared to face any independent investigation.
Following the recording of his statement, CIABOC investigators arrested him and produced him before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, where he was ordered to be remanded until 18 September.