Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and MP Namal Rajapaksa’s arrest by the Bribery Commission on Friday marks at least the fourth time he has been arrested since 2016, according to a review of previous reported arrests.
Rajapaksa was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on September 4, 2026, after being questioned for more than five hours. The investigation relates to an alleged bribery incident linked to a transaction involving the acquisition of wide-body aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.
The latest arrest comes nearly nine years after his previous reported arrest.
Rajapaksa was first arrested by the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) on July 11, 2016, following questioning over allegations involving Rs. 70 million provided by the Krrish Group as sponsorship for a rugby tournament.
Police alleged that the funds had been misappropriated. He was produced before the Fort Magistrate’s Court and remanded before being released on bail.
The Krrish case remains before court. The Attorney General subsequently filed indictments against Rajapaksa, and the Colombo High Court in July 2026 fixed the case for trial on November 16, while also ordering summons to be issued to two Indian witnesses. Rajapaksa remains on bail in the case.
Just over a month after his first arrest, on August 15, 2016, Rajapaksa was arrested for a second time by the FCID in a money laundering investigation linked to the purchase of shares in HelloCorp.
Investigators alleged irregularities surrounding the purchase of shares valued at approximately Rs. 125 million. He was remanded and subsequently granted bail.
Rajapaksa and the other accused were later acquitted by the Colombo High Court in November 2023 in the Gowers Corporation money laundering case connected to the HelloCorp allegations. The court ruled after the prosecution concluded its evidence that the evidence presented by prosecution witnesses could not establish the charges.
His third reported arrest came on October 10, 2017, when Hambantota Police arrested Rajapaksa along with MPs D.V. Chanaka and Prasanna Ranaweera and several others in connection with a protest in Hambantota.
The protest had been held against plans involving the Hambantota Port and Mattala International Airport, while a court order had restricted demonstrations in several areas.
That case is still ongoing. As recently as January 2026, the Hambantota Magistrate’s Court was continuing proceedings in the case, which includes allegations relating to unlawful assembly, disobedience of court orders and damage to public property.
Friday’s CIABOC arrest is therefore the fourth distinct arrest identified in a review of reported cases involving Rajapaksa.
The four arrests identified are:
• July 11, 2016 — Krrish-related Rs. 70 million case — ongoing
• August 15, 2016 — HelloCorp/Gowers Corporation money laundering case — acquitted in 2023
• October 10, 2017 — Hambantota protest case — ongoing
• September 4, 2026 — SriLankan Airlines wide-body aircraft USD 800,000 bribe
