MP Namal Rajapaksa has been arrested by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over an alleged Rs. 100 million bribery scandal linked to transactions involving the purchase of aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.
According to CIABOC, the alleged bribe consisted of EUR 1,454,651.24 and USD 800,000, which was equivalent to approximately Rs. 100 million at the time. The money was allegedly paid by a Sri Lankan businessman on several occasions in 2014 and 2015.
The commission said the funds had allegedly been deposited into an account held by BIZ Solutions INC at Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore. The money was subsequently transferred to an account at OCBC Bank in Singapore held by Sabre Vision Holdings LTD, a company belonging to the same Sri Lankan businessman, according to the investigation.
CIABOC said the arrest was based on evidence gathered during its ongoing investigation, including statements made by the businessman, information provided by Airbus officials in France, and electronic and other evidence relating to the transactions.
