Sri Lanka: Ex-President Rajapaksa's Son Arrested in Airbus Graft Probe

Namal Rajapaksa, a parliamentarian from the opposition Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party and son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was arrested on Friday following an extended interrogation by Sri Lanka's anti-corruption body. The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption questioned him for over five hours before his arrest.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama ordered that Rajapaksa be remanded in custody until September 18. The arrest stems from an ongoing investigation into the purchase of Airbus aircraft by the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, in 2013. The deal, reportedly worth several million dollars, is under scrutiny for alleged irregularities.

Rajapaksa has consistently denied any wrongdoing. His legal representatives were not immediately available for comment. The investigation has drawn international attention, with a delegation from Airbus visiting Colombo in August to assist authorities.

The case is linked to a broader global settlement involving Airbus. In 2020, the European manufacturer agreed to pay a $4 billion fine to resolve a three-year probe by French, British, and U.S. authorities into allegations of bribery and corruption related to its jetliner sales.

Neither SriLankan Airlines nor Airbus has yet responded to requests for comment on the latest development.