Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa was ordered to be further remanded until September 30 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today, pending a decision on his bail application regarding allegations of money laundering tied to the controversial SriLankan Airlines Airbus procurement deal. The 40-year-old opposition politician, who has been in custody since his initial arrest on September 4, is facing intense scrutiny over alleged financial irregularities surrounding the 2012–2013 purchase of wide-body aircraft.
The current money laundering investigation, conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), centers on the alleged misuse of approximately US$ 2 million during the aircraft procurement process. During recent proceedings, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara informed the court that Rajapaksa had been officially named as the fourth suspect in the case, which also involves former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena and his wife. The prosecution alleges that substantial funds, reportedly amounting to US$ 800,000, were routed through various accounts and eventually connected to Rajapaksa.
President’s Counsel Anil Silva, leading the defense team for Rajapaksa, has strongly rejected the prosecution's allegations and requested bail. The defense and the opposition SLPP have maintained that the charges are politically motivated and aimed at victimizing Rajapaksa, noting that this marks the first time a member of the former first family has been remanded since the National People's Power government took office. The defense argued against the necessity of continuous remand, asserting that Rajapaksa, as an active parliamentarian, poses no flight risk and is prepared to adhere to any stringent conditions imposed by the court.
In addition to the CID's money laundering probe, Rajapaksa is simultaneously facing a parallel investigation by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). In that separate proceeding, he is accused of accepting a Rs. 100 million bribe connected to the same Airbus transaction. Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama recently ordered Rajapaksa to be further remanded until September 29 in the bribery case. The Chief Magistrate directed the Bribery Commission to file its bail objections by September 25 and announced that the bail ruling for the bribery charge will be delivered on September 29.
