SLPP National Organiser and MP Namal Rajapaksa was arrested following an investigation that included an affidavit from businessman Nimal Perera alleging that he handed Rajapaksa Rs. 100 million linked to funds received in connection with the controversial SriLankan Airlines Airbus deal, the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court was told.
Nimal Perera is a prominent Sri Lankan businessman and investor whose name has surfaced in several high-profile financial investigations and court proceedings over the years. He has also faced allegations in connection with other controversial transactions, including the Krrish deal.
Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, appearing for the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), told court that Rajapaksa’s arrest followed a joint investigation conducted by the Bribery Commission and the Criminal Investigation Department.
The prosecution said the investigation, conducted with assistance from authorities in Australia, Singapore, France and the United States, had reached its final stages.
According to submissions made in court, €1.45 million had allegedly been paid by Airbus in connection with the disputed aircraft transaction.
The prosecution said funds originating from a Singapore Standard Chartered Bank account held under the name “Biz Solution,” a company solely owned by Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, wife of former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena, were subsequently transferred to a bank account in Singapore belonging to a company chaired by businessman Nimal Perera.
Investigators had travelled to Australia, where Perera currently resides, and recorded a statement from him, court was told.
According to the prosecution, Perera had provided an affidavit to CIABOC alleging that US$800,000 received by his company from the Biz Solution account was converted into Sri Lankan rupees and handed over to Rajapaksa.
The amount was approximately Rs. 100 million at the time, the prosecution told court.
Perera had reportedly declined to return to Sri Lanka, citing threats to his life.
The prosecution further told court that Airbus had agreed to cooperate with investigations into the aircraft transaction and that senior Airbus officials had visited Sri Lanka on three occasions and provided four statements. Investigators had also uncovered information concerning alleged links between Airbus and Rajapaksa, the court was told.
Defence challenges Nimal Perera’s credibility
President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing for Rajapaksa, sought bail and argued that his client had been arrested primarily on the statement of Nimal Perera.
The defence argued that neither French investigators nor Airbus officials had stated that they had given money to Rajapaksa.
Mendis also questioned Perera’s credibility, referring to evidence attributed to him in separate proceedings connected to the Krrish transaction.
The defence argued that Perera had previously denied ownership of an account associated with the company in question, claiming it belonged to an Italian friend.
The defence questioned why investigators should rely on Perera’s claims now when, according to Mendis, the CID had not accepted his account in 2019.
CIABOC opposed bail and informed court that a certificate had been submitted by its Director General under Section 149 of the Anti-Corruption Act, requiring special circumstances to be established for bail.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama held that the defence’s challenge to Perera’s credibility was a matter to be determined during a trial and did not constitute sufficient special circumstances for granting bail at this stage.
Rajapaksa was subsequently ordered to be remanded until September 18. (Newswire)
