14 September 2026
The Attorney General has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to name Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa as a suspect in the ongoing money laundering investigation linked to the controversial Airbus aircraft procurement deal involving SriLankan Airlines in 2013.
The CID informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court of the Attorney General’s instructions on Friday.
After considering the submissions, the Fort Magistrate ordered officials to produce Rajapaksa before court on 16 September. He is currently being held in protective custody in connection with a separate investigation.
The case relates to allegations of large-scale financial fraud and the payment of illicit commissions in the purchase of Airbus aircraft for the national carrier. The Airbus deal has been the subject of investigations in Sri Lanka and internationally, following revelations that massive bribes were paid to secure aircraft orders from SriLankan Airlines.
Rajapaksa was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on 4 September in connection with ongoing investigations into the Airbus transaction. After being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, he was remanded until 18 September pending further inquiries.
The latest development marks a significant step in the long-running investigation into the Airbus procurement scandal, one of the most high-profile corruption cases linked to SriLankan Airlines.