Image: Rakhitha Rajapakshe
Attorney-at-Law Rakhitha Rajapakshe, the son of former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, and Charith Abeysinghe, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) organiser for the Horana electorate, were arrested on Thursday by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over their alleged involvement in a multi-million-rupee bribery scheme linked to underworld figure Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, alias “Harak Kata”.
According to CIABOC, the arrests stem from an investigation into allegations that the suspects solicited and accepted bribes in exchange for facilitating the removal of detention orders imposed on Harak Kata under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), arranging his transfer from the Boossa High Security Prison to another correctional facility, and influencing law enforcement officials to treat him as an ordinary inmate.
Investigators allege that a bribe of Rs. 500 million was initially demanded from Harak Kata’s wife during a meeting in Dubai in 2023. The amount was subsequently reduced to Rs. 200 million, with Rs. 120 million allegedly obtained as an advance payment. Authorities further claim that the promised intervention included efforts to facilitate the suspect’s release from ongoing investigations and related legal proceedings.
CIABOC has also arrested other individuals in connection with the investigation, which remains ongoing. The suspects are expected to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court as inquiries continue.
English translation of the press statement issued by the CIABOC