Sri Lankan official faces corruption charges

Sri Lankan parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, son of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, is being indicted on 24 charges related to the purchase of Airbus aircraft by SriLankan Airlines. He is accused of receiving 100 million rupees in bribes but denies any wrongdoing. The case, linked to the airline’s long-haul fleet renewal starting in 2013, was presented in October 2026 before three judges in the High Court of Colombo, with a new court date set for November 19.

Rajapaksa arrested after inquiry hearing

Namal Rajapaksa was arrested on September 4 after appearing before the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of Business and Official Corruption (CIABOC). The indictment also names Shamindra Rajapaksa, Priyanka Niyomalie, and the company Biz Solutions. Prosecutors plan to call 59 witnesses, according to the media outlet ch-aviation.

Financial flows under investigation

Investigators are examining financial transactions linked to the Airbus contract. According to CIABOC findings and local media reports, 800,000 dollars were transferred from a Biz Solutions account in Singapore to Sabre Vision Holdings, a company tied to Sri Lankan businessman Nimal Perera. Perera is alleged to have paid Namal Rajapaksa in cash multiple times between 2014 and 2015, totaling 100 million rupees. This financial trail is central to the prosecution's case.

Airbus deal and its aftermath

The case centers on a 2013 fleet renewal program for SriLankan Airlines, which aimed to purchase six Airbus A330-300 and four A350-900 aircraft, along with leasing four more A350s. However, the A350s were never added to the fleet. The dispute has expanded beyond criminal charges, as the airline in 2021 claimed one billion dollars from Airbus for damages, including reputational harm and financial losses. It also sought to cancel the A350 purchase agreements and get a refund of 19 million dollars in deposits.

Airbus under international scrutiny

The Sri Lankan legal process is connected to broader international investigations into Airbus’s business practices. In 2020, Airbus agreed to pay over 3.9 billion dollars to French, British, and American authorities to resolve corruption cases and violations of US defense export rules. The British investigation included payments related to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Ghana. However, these settlements do not affect the criminal charges against individuals in Colombo.

Former airline manager found dead

Kapila Chandrasena, the former general manager of SriLankan Airlines, was found hanged in Colombo on May 8, 2026. He was also being prosecuted in connection with the aircraft acquisition. Following his death, the police announced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his passing.