Namal Rajapaksa remanded until September 30 in Airbus money laundering case

Namal Rajapaksa, a Member of Parliament and National Organiser of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), has been ordered to remain in remand custody until September 30, 2026. The decision was made by the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court regarding a money laundering investigation.

The case involves alleged financial irregularities connected to the purchase of Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines. This investigation is being conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The court indicated that it requires clarification on three outstanding issues before it can reach a decision on Rajapaksa's bail application.

This legal matter is distinct from a separate bribery investigation involving the same Airbus transaction. In that instance, Rajapaksa was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) following allegations of a Rs. 100 million bribe.