Namal Rajapaksa arrested by CIABOC over a Rs. 100 million bribery case tied to SriLankan Airlines’ Airbus deal. Here’s everything we know.
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa was arrested on September 4 by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). The arrest followed a lengthy investigation into an alleged Rs. 100 million bribery transaction connected to the purchase of aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.
Rajapaksa arrived at the Bribery Commission at around 9:15 a.m. to record a statement. Investigators questioned him for more than five hours. Once he finished giving his statement, officers took him into custody and produced him before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court the same evening.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama ordered that Rajapaksa be remanded until September 18. The order marks one of the most significant legal developments involving a senior SLPP figure in recent years, and it places fresh attention on a long-running probe into aircraft procurement deals at Sri Lanka’s national carrier.
This article breaks down the allegations, the money trail investigators say they have uncovered, the events leading up to the arrest, and what happens next in the case.
Background: The Airbus Deal at the Center of the Case
The case traces back to 2013, when SriLankan Airlines acquired six Airbus A330 aircraft and eight A350 aircraft. That acquisition has drawn scrutiny from anti-corruption investigators for years because of allegations that bribes changed hands to influence the deal.
CIABOC had already built part of its case around former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena and his wife, Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake. Investigators accused the couple of accepting a USD 2 million bribe connected to the same aircraft acquisition. Officers arrested Chandrasena on March 12, and a magistrate remanded him before he was later released on bail.
The case then took a dramatic turn. While out on bail, Chandrasena was found dead under mysterious circumstances on May 8. Police say they suspect suicide, though the death added a somber layer to an already high-profile investigation.
Two other suspects remain wanted. CIABOC has issued open warrants for Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake and for Shamindra Rajapaksa, who is named as the third suspect in the case now before the Fort Magistrate’s Court.
Investigators pushed the probe further in August, when a delegation from Airbus’s parent company in France traveled to Sri Lanka. The delegation met with CIABOC officials and gave statements that investigators say strengthened the evidence against the remaining suspects, including Namal Rajapaksa.
The Money Trail: How Investigators Say the Bribe Moved
CIABOC laid out a detailed account of how it believes the alleged bribe moved through international accounts. According to the Commission, the total bribe payment amounted to EUR 1,454,651.24, a sum that investigators say is equivalent to roughly Rs. 100 million.
Investigators allege that USD 800,000 of that amount was remitted to a Sri Lankan businessman through an account held by BIZ Solutions Inc. at Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore. From there, the Commission says, the funds moved into an account at OCBC Bank in Singapore held by Sabre Vision Holdings Ltd., a company that belongs to the same businessman.
CIABOC further alleges that the businessman then paid the Rs. 100 million equivalent as a bribe on several separate occasions during 2014 and 2015. The Commission says this staggered payment pattern is one of the key elements it examined while building the case.
Investigators say three sources support these allegations. First, they point to statements from the Sri Lankan businessman named as a suspect. Second, they cite statements collected from Airbus officials in France. Third, they reference electronic records and other documentary evidence gathered throughout the investigation.
Context: Rajapaksa’s Path to the Bribery Commission
Rajapaksa’s appearance before CIABOC did not happen on the Commission’s first request. The Bribery Commission originally instructed him to appear on September 4. Rajapaksa asked whether he could appear a day earlier, on September 3, instead.
CIABOC agreed to move the date. However, Rajapaksa’s lawyer, Muditha R. Lokumudali, then sent a letter informing the Commission that Rajapaksa would only be able to appear on or after September 25.
The Commission rejected that request. It sent Rajapaksa a WhatsApp message reminding him that he needed to appear on the originally scheduled date, September 4, as directed. CIABOC also warned that it would pursue legal action if Rajapaksa failed to comply with the summons.
Rajapaksa ultimately complied, arriving at the Commission’s premises as instructed.
What Rajapaksa Said Before His Arrest
Before entering the Commission building, Rajapaksa briefly spoke with reporters gathered outside. When a journalist asked whether he was complying with the law, Rajapaksa pushed back on the process itself. He said the law needs to function properly too, and pointed out that he and his team had waited roughly 15 minutes just to cross the road to the Commission.
A reporter then asked whether he felt confident that he had not committed any wrongdoing. Rajapaksa answered firmly, saying he had done nothing wrong and that he had no reason to act improperly. He added that he and his team were ready to face any independent investigation at any time.
Those comments came just hours before investigators arrested him following his five-hour statement.
The Arrest and Remand Order
After investigators completed questioning, they formally arrested Rajapaksa. Officers then transported him to the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court for a remand hearing.
Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama reviewed the case and ordered that Rajapaksa remain in remand custody until September 18. That order means Rajapaksa will stay in custody while the investigation and legal proceedings continue, unless a court grants bail before that date.
The remand order places Rajapaksa in a similar legal position to Kapila Chandrasena earlier in the year, though the outcome of Rajapaksa’s case remains to be seen.
Why This Case Matters
This case carries weight far beyond one arrest. It touches Sri Lanka’s national airline, a major international aircraft manufacturer, and one of the country’s most prominent political families. The investigation has already produced one arrest, one mysterious death, two outstanding warrants, and now a second high-profile remand order.
For everyday Sri Lankans, the case also tests how the country’s anti-corruption institutions handle allegations against powerful political figures. CIABOC’s decision to reject Rajapaksa’s request for a later hearing date, and to follow through with legal pressure when he tried to delay, signals that the Commission intended to move forward regardless of his political standing.
The involvement of Airbus officials from France adds an international dimension to the case as well. Their statements to CIABOC suggest that the investigation extends beyond Sri Lanka’s borders and involves cooperation with foreign entities connected to the aircraft deal.
The case also raises broader questions about how state-owned enterprises like SriLankan Airlines manage large procurement decisions. Aircraft purchases involve enormous sums of money and long negotiation periods, which can create opportunities for undue influence if oversight mechanisms fall short. Investigators and analysts alike will likely watch closely to see whether this case leads to reforms in how future aircraft deals are reviewed and approved.
Public trust in institutions plays a role here too. Sri Lanka has faced years of economic strain, and citizens have repeatedly called for accountability from public officials and state enterprises. A case of this scale, involving a sitting MP and a well-known political family, gives the public a clear marker of whether anti-corruption bodies can hold powerful figures accountable through the courts rather than through political negotiation.
What Happens Next
With Rajapaksa remanded until September 18, several developments are likely in the coming days and weeks:
- Bail hearings: Rajapaksa’s legal team may file for bail before the September 18 date, which could lead to an earlier court appearance.
- Further evidence review: CIABOC is expected to continue examining financial records, statements, and other documentary evidence tied to the alleged Rs. 100 million bribe.
- Status of other suspects: Authorities have not yet located Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake or Shamindra Rajapaksa, and their eventual arrest or surrender could shape the direction of the case.
- Political reaction: As SLPP’s National Organiser, Rajapaksa’s arrest is likely to draw responses from party members, political opponents, and civil society groups following developments in Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption efforts.
- Trial proceedings: If CIABOC formally files charges, the case would move toward trial, where prosecutors would need to present the financial records, witness statements, and other evidence they have gathered to a court.
- Public and media scrutiny: Given the profile of the accused, local and international media are expected to continue close coverage of every court date, filing, and statement connected to the case.
Legal analysts note that remand periods like the one Rajapaksa now faces often extend as investigators continue building their case, particularly when a matter involves international bank records and cross-border cooperation with entities such as Airbus. Whether the September 18 date brings a bail decision, an extension of remand, or a new development in the investigation will offer the next clear signal of how this case will unfold.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Who: Namal Rajapaksa, SLPP National Organiser and Member of Parliament
- What: Arrested by CIABOC over an alleged Rs. 100 million bribery case
- When: Arrested September 4; remanded until September 18
- Where: Bribery Commission, Colombo; remand ordered at Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court
- Alleged bribe amount: EUR 1,454,651.24 (approximately Rs. 100 million)
- Related case: SriLankan Airlines’ 2013 acquisition of six Airbus A330 and eight A350 aircraft
- Other suspects: Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake and Shamindra Rajapaksa (open warrants); Kapila Chandrasena (deceased, found dead May 8 while on bail)
Namal Rajapaksa’s arrest marks a significant moment in one of Sri Lanka’s most closely watched corruption investigations. The case connects a national airline’s aircraft purchases, an international paper trail through Singapore-based bank accounts, and a political figure who has long held influence within the SLPP.
As the investigation moves forward, the September 18 remand date will serve as the next major checkpoint. Whether Rajapaksa secures bail, how the case against the remaining suspects develops, and how CIABOC presents its evidence in court will all shape the next chapter of this unfolding story.