Sri Lankan MP Namal Rajapaksa was arrested by the anti-corruption commission over an alleged Airbus bribe tied to SriLankan Airlines aircraft purchases; he denies wrongdoing.
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What happened
On 4 September 2026 Sri Lanka's Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) arrested MP Namal Rajapaksa, alleging he obtained USD 800,000 (about Rs 100 million) as part of a bribe linked to Airbus aircraft purchases for state-owned SriLankan Airlines under deals agreed in 2012-2013. CIABOC alleges the money passed through accounts of businessman Nimal Perera, whose sworn statement is central; Rajapaksa's lawyer argued the arrest rests solely on Perera's statement, and the Rajapaksa camp has called the case politically motivated. The court refused bail, and on 29 September he was remanded in the Airbus case until 13 October 2026; the court was told investigations were complete and indictments would be sought. He is separately remanded in a second case, the Krrish property case, alleging a Rs 70 million bribe. These are allegations; no court has convicted him.
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- Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) — Namal's arrest on bribery charges sparks political storm
CIABOC says he obtained USD 800,000 as part of a bribe totalling EUR 1.454 million linked to Airbus purchases.
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What happened next (1)
On September 30, 2026 the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court granted MP Namal Rajapaksa bail in an Airbus-related money-laundering case (Rs. 500,000 cash and two sureties of Rs. 100 million each, plus a travel ban and a bar on contacting witnesses). He stayed in custody because remand orders in two other cases, including the Airbus bribery case until October 13, remained in force. Source ↗