Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption commission has arrested opposition leader Namal Rajapaksa, the elder son of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, over alleged corruption linked to the purchase of Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.

Rajapaksa, 40, was questioned for more than five hours by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on Friday before being arrested and produced before Magistrate Asanga S Boderagama. The Colombo magistrate ordered him to remain in custody until September 18, officials said.

Probe Focuses On Alleged Airbus Deal Payments

The investigation centres on allegations that Rajapaksa benefited by USD 800,000 from the purchase of wide-bodied Airbus aircraft by SriLankan Airlines during his father’s presidency.

According to the information being examined by the anti-graft commission, commissions linked to the aircraft purchases were deposited into various bank accounts, with investigators questioning Rajapaksa over his alleged benefit from the transactions.

The arrest is the first instance of a member of Sri Lanka’s former first family being remanded since the National People’s Power government came to power two years ago.

Rajapaksa’s cousin, Shashindra Rajapaksa, is currently out on bail after being remanded earlier this year in a separate case.

SLPP Alleges Political Motive Behind Arrest

Namal Rajapaksa is a leader of the opposition Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), which has accused the government of using the case to disrupt its political activities.

Rajapaksa had announced plans to hold the first of a series of major anti-government public rallies on September 12 in Anuradhapura, a town in Sri Lanka’s north-central region.

The SLPP alleged that the government deliberately sought to have Rajapaksa remanded in order to derail the planned rally and weaken his campaign against the government.

Rajapaksa’s siblings are also facing various allegations of wrongdoing. The family members have rejected the accusations and described the cases against them as politically motivated witch hunts.

Former Rajapaksa Government Officials Face Scrutiny

Friday’s arrest came shortly after CIABOC detained Johnston Fernando, who served as a Cabinet minister under Rajapaksa-led governments between 2005 and 2023.

Authorities accused Fernando of misusing public funds to install seating at a conference hall in the central district of Kandy that was named after former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The latest cases have brought renewed scrutiny on figures associated with the Rajapaksa administrations, with the anti-graft commission continuing investigations into alleged misuse of public resources and corruption.

Namal Rajapaksa’s remand until September 18 comes as his opposition party prepares for a series of public protests and rallies against the current National People’s Power government.

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