Key facts
- Namal Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has been arrested.
- He faces graft charges related to the purchase of Airbus planes by SriLankan Airlines.
- Rajapaksa was remanded until September 18 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.
- The arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into a multi-million-dollar plane purchase in 2013.
- Airbus settled bribery allegations with authorities in 2020 for $4 billion.
Namal Rajapaksa, a lawmaker and the son of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has been arrested and remanded until September 18 on graft charges. The charges are connected to the multi-million-dollar purchase of Airbus planes by the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, in 2013.
Rajapaksa, who represents the opposition Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, was arrested after extensive questioning by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama issued the order for his remand.
Rajapaksa has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The investigation into the Airbus plane deal is ongoing, with a delegation from Airbus having visited Colombo in August to assist authorities. In 2020, Airbus agreed to a $4 billion fine to settle bribery and corruption allegations related to jetliner sales with French, British, and U.S. authorities.