National Organiser of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

He arrived at the Bribery Commission this morning (04) to record a statement and was taken into custody following several hours of questioning.

Allegations had previously been levelled against former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena and his wife, Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, over the alleged acceptance of a USD 2 million bribe in connection with the acquisition of six Airbus A330 and eight A350 aircraft for SriLankan Airlines in 2013.

In connection with an investigation initiated by the Commission under the Anti-Corruption Act, Kapila Chandrasena was arrested on March 12 and remanded in custody before subsequently being released on bail.

While on bail, Kapila Chandrasena was found dead under mysterious circumstances on May 8, with police suspecting that it was a case of suicide.

Meanwhile, open warrants have been issued for the arrest of Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, the wife of Kapila Chandrasena and the second suspect, and Shamindra Rajapaksa, named as the third suspect in the ongoing case before the Fort Magistrate’s Court concerning the Airbus deal.

Additionally, a delegation from Airbus’s parent company in France visited Sri Lanka during the first week of August to assist with the investigation and provided statements to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

Accordingly, MP Namal Rajapaksa appeared before the Bribery Commission at around 9:15 a.m. today following a summons to record a statement regarding the controversial Airbus transaction.

Following his arrest, he is scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.