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

Sri Lankan anti-graft authorities arrested Namal Rajapaksa, son of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Friday. They accused him of receiving US$800,000 related to a 2013 Airbus deal. The arrest came after questioning by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), who stated the money was part of a US$2.3 billion transaction.

Rajapaksa, 40, was held for two weeks pending further investigations. His lawyer sought bail but it was denied. The CIABOC questioned the ex-president in May over alleged kickbacks from the aircraft purchase, which was cancelled in 2016. The Rajapaksa family denies receiving bribes, claiming the accusations are politically motivated.

Former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena also faced questions in March, admitting to giving nearly half a million dollars in kickbacks to senior Rajapaksa. Chandrasena was found dead in May, and the cause of death remains unknown. US, British and French authorities previously found Airbus had paid about US$16 million in bribes in Sri Lanka, with US$1.7 million going to Chandrasena.

The aircraft purchase required cabinet approval during Rajapaksa's presidency from 2005 to 2015. Chandrasena had previously told investigators he had paid Rajapaksa 60 million rupees in three instalments in 2013, but later retracted the statement. SriLankan Airlines, now heavily in debt, has accumulated losses estimated at nearly US$2 billion, with privatization attempts repeatedly failing.