Sri Lankan investigative authorities have officially named former Minister and current Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa as a suspect in the high-profile investigation into alleged financial irregularities surrounding SriLankan Airlines’ multi-billion-dollar deal with aircraft manufacturer Airbus.
Key Highlights
- Namal Rajapaksa formally named as a suspect in the ongoing probe into SriLankan Airlines’ procurement deal with Airbus.
- The investigation focuses on alleged money laundering, bribery, and financial improprieties tied to the 2013 aircraft purchase agreement.
- Legal proceedings are intensifying as Sri Lankan law enforcement collaborates with international agencies following global bribery disclosures involving Airbus.
The development marks a significant escalation in the long-running probe into the national carrier’s 2013 deal to re-fleet with Airbus aircraft. International investigations previously revealed that Airbus had agreed to pay millions of dollars in commission to offshore accounts linked to Sri Lankan officials to secure the lucrative deal.
Law enforcement authorities, including the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), have been examining domestic and international financial transactions linked to the procurement. The naming of Rajapaksa—son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa—as a key suspect aligns with broader anti-corruption efforts aimed at holding high-ranking public figures accountable for state financial losses.
Court proceedings regarding the case are currently underway in Colombo, with investigators expected to present further evidence regarding the flow of funds and offshore accounts associated with the deal.