National Organiser of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa, who was remanded until September 18 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate, was escorted out of the court premises and taken to the remand prison, a short while ago.
A large number of political supporters, party members and others had gathered outside the court premises as Rajapaksa was escorted into a prison bus by by prison guards and taken away.
He was arrested by the CIABOC today (04), and produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court after recording a statement following several hours of questioning over the controversial Airbus transaction.
The remand order was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama after considering submissions made by Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, who appeared for the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), and the lawyers representing MP Namal Rajapaksa.
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.
