The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has stated that the arrest of Rakitha Rajapakshe, son of former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe; Charith Abeysinghe, Horana electorate organizer of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya; and Aruna Sri Chathuranga, a former director of the Civil Aviation Authority, was in connection with a high‑profile bribery case linked to underworld figure Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, alias ‘Harak Kata’.
According to the Bribery Commission, in 2023, while ‘Harak Kata’ was under a detention order of the Criminal Investigation Department, his wife Madushika Madhuwanthi was solicited in Dubai for a bribe of Rs. 500 million to remove from detention and transfer to any other prison other than the Boossa High Security Prison in Galle.
Issuing a statement, the Bribery Commission said the demand was later reduced to Rs. 200 million, with Rs. 120 million allegedly obtained as an advance.
The Bribery Commission confirmed that the suspects were arrested in connection with the bribe and are to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. (Newswire)
