Sri Lanka arrests ex-president's son over Airbus deal

Sri Lanka's anti-graft authorities arrested Namal Rajapaksa, the son of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Friday. The 40-year-old lawmaker is accused of receiving $800,000 related to a 2013 Airbus deal. He was held by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) after being questioned over the $2.3 billion aircraft transaction.

The CIABOC informed the court that Rajapaksa received $800,000, part of the alleged money paid by Airbus to Sri Lankan politicians and officials for securing the deal. Rajapaksa's lawyer sought bail, but it was denied. The probe has also expanded to include former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was questioned by CIABOC in May over allegations that he too received kickbacks from the aircraft purchase, which was later cancelled by a new government in 2016.