File picture of Namal Rajapaksa (C), son of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa
| Photograph Credit score: AFP
Sri Lanka’s major anti-graft physique arrested lawmaker Namal Rajapaksa, the son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Friday (September 4, 2026) in reference to a corruption probe right into a 2013 Airbus plane buy.
The Fee to Examine Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) mentioned the 40-year-old scion of the once-powerful Rajapaksa family “was summoned for questioning over the Airbus transaction”.
“The MP was arrested afterwards and might be taken earlier than a Justice of the Peace,” a fee official mentioned.
It was not instantly clear what costs Mr. Namal faces.
His lawyer, Nishantha Dayananda, confirmed the arrest over the controversial $2.3-billion deal, which was ultimately cancelled by a brand new authorities in 2016.
CIABOC had questioned the previous President himself in Might over allegations that he had acquired kickbacks from the plane buy.
The anti-graft probe centres on claims that the European producer channelled a part of the cash from the acquisition to senior Sri Lankan officers and politicians.
The Rajapaksa household has denied allegations that they acquired bribes and dismissed corruption claims in opposition to them as politically motivated.
Former SriLankan Airways chief government Kapila Chandrasena informed investigators in March that he had handed almost half 1,000,000 {dollars} in kickbacks to Rajapaksa.
Chandrasena was discovered useless at a relative’s residence in Might, shortly earlier than he was resulting from be rearrested. The reason for dying has not been established.
A joint investigation by U.S., British and French authorities beforehand discovered Airbus had agreed to pay about $16 million in bribes in Sri Lanka, with $1.7 million routed to Chandrasena earlier than the scandal was uncovered.
The funds had been linked to the acquisition of 10 Airbus plane, which required cupboard approval throughout Rajapaksa’s presidency from 2005 to 2015.
In response to submissions made in courtroom, Chandrasena initially informed investigators he had paid Rajapaksa 60 million rupees ($461,000 on the time) in three instalments in 2013.
He later retracted the assertion, claiming it had been made beneath stress.
SriLankan Airways has amassed losses estimated at almost $2 billion, and repeated makes an attempt to privatise the debt-laden flag provider have failed.
Revealed – September 04, 2026 03:52 pm IST
