Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) in connection with the investigation into the controversial SriLankan Airlines Airbus procurement deal.
Rajapaksa appeared before the Bribery Commission at around 9.15 a.m. today (September 4) after being summoned to provide a statement regarding the ongoing investigation. He was arrested after being questioned for several hours.
The investigation relates to SriLankan Airlines' 2013 procurement arrangements involving six Airbus A330 aircraft and eight A350 aircraft.
Former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena and his wife had faced allegations relating to an alleged US$2 million bribe connected to the aircraft transaction.
CIABOC launched an investigation under Sri Lanka's anti-corruption legislation, and Chandrasena was arrested on March 12 and remanded before later being released on bail. He was subsequently found dead on May 8, with police reportedly suspecting suicide.
Meanwhile, Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, Chandrasena's wife and the second suspect named in the case before the Fort Magistrate's Court, and Shamindra Rajapaksa, named as the third suspect, are subject to open warrants for their arrest.
Representatives of Airbus' parent company in France also visited Sri Lanka in early August and provided statements to CIABOC as part of cooperation with the investigation.
Against this backdrop, Rajapaksa was summoned to provide a statement regarding the Airbus transaction and was subsequently taken into custody.
He is expected to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court.
The allegations remain subject to judicial proceedings, and the arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt.
