AG moves to name Namal Rajapaksa suspect in SriLankan Airbus probe
COLOMBO ‒ The Attorney General’s Department has taken steps to name Namal Rajapaksa, Member of Parliament and eldest son on former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, as a suspect in an ongoing money laundering investigation involving financial irregularities in the procurement of Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.
The development comes amid a broader probe into alleged bribery and financial corruption linked to the national carrier’s aircraft acquisition deals.
The Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama has directed the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) to submit a comprehensive progress report by October 13, 2026. The order follows the submission of an interim report by CIABOC investigators requesting additional time to proceed with their inquiries.
The high-profile case has seen significant developments in recent months, with the primary suspect in the investigation, former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena, passing away under mysterious circumstances.
Meanwhile, arrest warrants remain active for two other key figures in the case: Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, the second suspect and wife of the late CEO, and Shamindra Rajapaksa, the third suspect, a former board member of SriLankan Airlines and son of former Minister Chamal Rajapaksa.
Namal, the 40-year-old scion of the once-powerful Rajapaksa family, accused of receiving $800 000 linked to a 2013 Airbus deal, was arrested earlier this month, and has been remanded until September 18.
-ENCL
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