Sri Lanka court refuses to issue arrest warrants for two Indian directors in bribery case
The Colombo Chief Magistrate cited a lack of evidence in a case where Opposition leader Namal Rajapaksa is already in remand custody over an alleged 2013 bribe linked to a stalled hotel project
A Sri Lankan court has declined to issue arrest warrants for two Indian directors accused of bribery, amid a case involving Opposition leader Namal Rajapaksa. Prosecutors from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) sought the arrest of Amit Katyal and Rajendra Prasad Gupta, directors at Krish Hotels, an Indian investment project.
However, the Colombo Chief Magistrate refused, citing insufficient evidence and requested CIABOC to submit a report with the necessary evidence for warrant issuance. Opposition leader Namal Rajapaksa, 40, and his father's elder son, are currently held in remand custody for alleged bribery of 70 million Sri Lankan rupees in connection with the stalled hotel project.
The CIABOC alleges that Rajapaksa received the bribe from Janaki Siriwardena, the local agent of the Indian investment project, multiple times to secure approvals for the project, which ultimately failed. Rajapaksa maintains that the funds were intended for international rugby event sponsorship. He has been in remand since September 4, 2026, linked to a separate $2 million bribery case and a money laundering case.
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