Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa was remanded until September 18 following his arrest on bribery charges linked to the controversial purchase of Airbus aircraft by SriLankan Airlines. The arrest took place on Friday afternoon after Rajapaksa was questioned for nearly five hours by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) in Colombo.
The allegations relate to transactions made between 2012 and 2013 involving the purchase of six A330 and four A350 aircraft, as well as the lease of four additional planes. According to CIABOC, Rajapaksa is accused of receiving a bribe of USD 800,000, part of a total EUR 1.454 million, connected to these deals. The funds originated in a Standard Chartered Bank account in Singapore held by Biz Solutions Inc, a company registered in Brunei and owned by Priyanka Neomali Wijenayake, wife of former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena. The money was then transferred to an OCBC bank account in Singapore maintained by Sabre Vision Holdings Ltd, belonging to Sri Lankan businessman Nimal Perera.
Perera, currently in Australia, reportedly provided a sworn affidavit stating that he converted the USD 800,000 into Sri Lankan rupees amounting to Rs. 100 million and delivered it to Rajapaksa on multiple occasions during 2014 and 2015. These statements, along with documentation and testimony from Airbus company officials from France, form the basis of the ongoing investigation, which is in its final stage. The probe is being conducted jointly by CIABOC and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) with international assistance from Australia, Singapore, France, and the United States.
At the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara opposed bail for Rajapaksa, citing a certificate under the Anti-Corruption Act that requires special circumstances to grant bail. Representing Rajapaksa, President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis argued that the arrest was based solely on Perera’s statements and questioned Perera’s credibility, referencing a separate ongoing case involving Perera and his disputed ownership of the Sabre Vision Holdings account. Despite these arguments, the court denied bail, determining that the defense had not provided sufficient grounds.
The arrest has intensified political tensions ahead of a major SLPP rally planned for September 12 in Anuradhapura, where Rajapaksa was expected to play a central role. SLPP officials, including General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, have characterized the arrest as a politically motivated attempt by the current National People’s Power (NPP) government to undermine Rajapaksa’s rising popularity and disrupt the party’s outreach program. The NPP administration is also scheduling a public rally in Anuradhapura on September 13 to mark President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s two-year tenure.
Efforts by the SLPP to secure venues for their rally have met resistance, with municipal authorities and police citing prior bookings for the main grounds in the town. The SLPP has reportedly arranged an alternative location and remains committed to proceeding with the event. The party further indicated that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is likely to attend the rally and may address supporters, framing his son’s arrest as political retaliation.
The United National Party (UNP) has expressed strong condemnation of Rajapaksa’s arrest, describing it as a deliberate move to disrupt the SLPP rally. Meanwhile, the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) has not issued an official statement.
This case adds another chapter to the longstanding scrutiny of the Airbus deal, which has been investigated multiple times by parliamentary committees, audit offices, and presidential commissions over the past decade. While the current investigation appears to be concluding, the timing of Rajapaksa’s arrest shortly before a significant political event has drawn criticism and suspicion across the political spectrum.
Rajapaksa himself, through a statement posted on social media, welcomed a fair and transparent inquiry but questioned the timing of his detention. He emphasized his intention to cooperate with the investigation while reserving the right to legally challenge the charges. Supporters at the court displayed strong emotions, chanting slogans and vowing to continue their political activities amid the heightened tensions.