The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded three suspects, including attorney-at-law Rakitha Rajapaksa, until July 3 over an alleged bribery case linked to organised crime figure Nadun Chinthaka Wickremeratne, widely known as “Harak Kata.”
The suspects are Rakitha Rajapaksa, son of former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe; Charith Abeysinghe, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) organiser for the Horana electorate; and former Civil Aviation Authority Director Aruna Varunahendige.
The trio was produced before court today (25) after being arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
According to investigators, the suspects are alleged to have solicited a bribe in exchange for influencing investigations against Harak Kata. The commission claims they promised to facilitate the removal of detention orders, ease ongoing investigations, arrange a transfer from the Boossa High Security Prison to another detention facility and prevent alleged harm to the suspect while in custody.
Investigations have further revealed that the suspects allegedly travelled together to Dubai in March 2023, where they met Harak Kata’s wife, Madhushika Madhuwanthi, and another alleged organised crime figure known as “Midigama Ruwan.”
CIABOC alleges that an initial demand of Rs. 50 crore was made before the amount was reduced to Rs. 20 crore. Investigators claim Rs. 10 crore was received as an advance, followed by an additional Rs. 2 crore, bringing the total alleged payment to Rs. 12 crore.
The commission also alleges that the money was transferred to Sri Lanka through an informal “Undiyal” money transfer system.
Following several hours of questioning, the three suspects were produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, which ordered that they be remanded until July 3.
The allegations remain under investigation, and the suspects are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty in a court of law.
