COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s anti-graft authorities on Friday arrested lawmaker Namal Rajapaksa, the son of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, accusing him of receiving $800,000 linked to a 2013 Airbus deal.

A magistrate ordered the 40-year-old scion of the once-powerful Rajapaksa family to be held for two weeks.

He was taken before court by an anti-corruption body, which arrested him after questioning over the $2.3 billion transaction.

The agency told the court that Namal Rajapaksa had received $800,000, part of money allegedly paid by the European aircraft manufacturer to Sri Lankan politicians and officials to secure the deal.

A Sri Lankan businessman had arranged the transfer of cash to Rajapaksa via two Singapore bank accounts, the court was told.

His lawyer Nishantha Dayananda sought bail, but it was denied.

The anti-graft body had questioned the former president himself in May over allegations that he, too, had received kickbacks from the aircraft purchase, which was cancelled by a new government in 2016.

The probe centres on claims that the European manufacturer channelled part of the money from the purchase to Sri Lankan officials and politicians.

The Rajapaksa family denied allegations that they received bribes and dismissed corruption claims against them as politically motivated.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2026