Sri Lanka arrests former President Rajapaksa’s son over Airbus deal
Namal Rajapaksa, son of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has been arrested in connection with a corruption investigation into a 2013 Airbus aircraft purchase. The probe alleges that kickbacks were funneled to senior officials during the deal.
Why it matters
The arrest represents a significant development in long-standing corruption allegations against the powerful Rajapaksa political dynasty in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka's main anti-graft body arrested lawmaker Namal Rajapaksa, the son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Friday (September 4, 2026) in connection with a corruption probe into a 2013 Airbus aircraft purchase.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) said the 40-year-old scion of the once-powerful Rajapaksa family "was summoned for questioning over the Airbus transaction".
"The MP was arrested afterwards and will be taken before a magistrate," a commission official said.
It was not immediately clear what charges Mr. Namal faces.
His lawyer, Nishantha Dayananda, confirmed the arrest over the controversial $2.3-billion deal, which was eventually cancelled by a new government in 2016.
CIABOC had questioned the former President himself in May over allegations that he had received kickbacks from the aircraft purchase.
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