By The Pulseline News Desk
The legal spotlight on Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa intensified on Wednesday (16) when the Fort Magistrate’s Court ordered him to remain in remand custody until September 23, as investigators moved closer to filing indictments over allegations linked to the controversial Airbus transaction.
Namal is facing a money laundering case filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the procurement of 16 wide-body aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.
The latest remand order is separate from another case being pursued by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over the same transaction. In that case, Namal is currently in remand custody until Friday (18).
The two proceedings reflect the parallel nature of the investigation, with the authorities pursuing alleged offences under both anti-bribery legislation and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Prosecution signals indictments
Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara has told Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara that extracts from the investigation had already been forwarded to the Attorney General.
He has said steps would be taken to file indictments against the suspects without delay.
According to the prosecution, the investigation concerns alleged bribery during the process of acquiring 16 wide-body aircraft under an agreement between Airbus and SriLankan Airlines.
Bandara has also told court that a statement had been recorded from Namal inside prison on Monday as part of the investigation.
The prosecution has maintained that the CID and CIABOC are now conducting investigations into different aspects of the same transaction, following changes introduced under the new anti-corruption legal framework.
US$ 800,000 allegation
One of the central allegations presented to court concerned an alleged US$ 800,000 payment said to have ultimately reached a company linked to businessman Nimal Perera.
The Deputy Solicitor General has told court that Airbus had allegedly paid €1.454 million to Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, the wife of former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena.
According to the prosecution, the money was initially deposited into an account at Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore held under the name Business Solutions Inc.
The prosecution has alleged that funds were subsequently transferred to an account belonging to Saber Vision Holding Limited, a company chaired by Nimal Perera.
Bandara has said Perera had provided an affidavit stating that US$ 800,000 had been transferred to the account of his company and that this money was subsequently given to Namal.
The prosecution has valued the alleged payment at approximately Rs. 100 million.
These are allegations presented by the prosecution and remain subject to judicial determination.
Another Rajapaksa family connection cited
The court was also told that €160,400 had allegedly been transferred from the Business Solutions account to an account belonging to Shamindra Rajapaksa, the son of former Minister Chamal Rajapaksa.
The prosecution has described these transactions as findings arising from the investigation.
It has also informed court that forensic investigations carried out with international assistance had uncovered email communications allegedly relating to transactions between Namal and Airbus.
The evidentiary significance of those communications will ultimately have to be determined through the legal process.
Defence challenges flight-risk argument
The prosecution has opposed bail, while President’s Counsel Anil Silva, appearing for Namal, had urged the court to release his client on bail.
Silva has argued that Namal is an active politician in Sri Lanka and that there was no reasonable basis to suggest that he would flee the country.
He has also rejected the prosecution’s concern that Namal could influence witnesses if released.
The defence has argued that violating bail conditions would expose Namal to the risk of having bail cancelled and being returned to remand custody.
After considering the submissions, the Magistrate has ordered that Namal remain in remand custody until September 23.
Why the Airbus case matters
The latest proceedings add another layer to a long-running controversy surrounding the acquisition of aircraft by SriLankan Airlines.
The case is significant not only because of the individuals named in the proceedings, but also because it involves alleged financial transfers across multiple jurisdictions and the use of corporate and banking structures outside Sri Lanka.
The prosecution’s reference to international forensic assistance and overseas bank accounts indicates that investigators are tracing the movement of funds beyond Sri Lankan borders.
At the centre of the legal proceedings is therefore not simply the question of whether money had changed hands, but whether investigators can establish the origin, movement and ultimate beneficiaries of the funds and connect those transactions to specific offences.
For Namal, the immediate consequence is continued detention. For investigators, the next major step will be the Attorney General’s consideration of the investigation file and any subsequent indictments.
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