The Attorney General’s Department informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today (27) that indictments containing 24 charges had been filed before the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar against MP Namal Rajapaksa and other accused over an alleged Rs. 100 million bribe connected to the purchase of Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.
Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, appearing for the Attorney General, told the court that the Chief Justice had appointed a three-judge bench to hear the case. The indictment named 59 witnesses.
He made these submissions when the case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.
Bandara said the Bribery Commission had informed the Attorney General’s Department of the further steps being taken. The indictment had accordingly been filed under the Judicature Act provisions governing the trial of serious financial and economic crimes.
President’s Counsel Ali Sabry and President’s Counsel Shavindra Fernando appeared in connection with motions submitted in the Airbus proceedings and the separate case against Rajapaksa concerning the Krrish transaction.
Appearing for the defence, Fernando pointed out that the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar was already hearing a lengthy trial daily. He submitted that a considerable period could therefore elapse before Rajapaksa’s case could be taken up or considered.
Citing Article 13 of the Constitution, Sabry emphasised the importance of protecting a suspect’s personal liberty.
He argued that keeping his client in remand custody was unjustified, given that investigations into the Airbus transaction had been completed.
Sabry requested that Rajapaksa be released on bail under any conditions the court considered appropriate, stating that his client was prepared to appear before the High Court whenever summoned or notified.
After considering submissions from both sides, the Chief Magistrate ordered that the case be called again later. Counsel also indicated that submissions concerning the motion in the Krrish case would be made subsequently.
Rajapaksa was arrested on 4 September 2026 after appearing before the Bribery Commission, where investigators recorded a statement from him for nearly five hours over allegations that he had received a Rs. 100 million bribe linked to the Airbus purchase.
Following his production before court, his remand detention was extended on several occasions, with bail applications being rejected.
According to the allegations outlined in the case, €1,454,651.24 allegedly paid in bribes in connection with the 2013 transaction was credited to an account held by BIZ Solutions Inc. at Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore.
The company was registered in the name of Priyanka Neeyomali Wijenayake, the wife of then SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena.
A further US$ 800,000 was allegedly transferred from that account to an account held by Sabre Vision Holdings Ltd. at OCBC Bank in Singapore. Businessman Nimal Perera was identified as a key figure connected to that company.
In an affidavit, Perera, who resides in Australia, reportedly stated that Rs. 100 million from those funds had been handed over to Rajapaksa on several occasions during 2014 and 2015. Rajapaksa’s representatives have strongly denied the allegations.
An Airbus email dated 23 March 2013 also allegedly stated that Rajapaksa, the then President’s son, had agreed to have the aircraft purchase proposal submitted to the Cabinet through the President.
The Criminal Investigation Department and the Bribery Commission jointly conducted the investigation, drawing on information obtained from Airbus officials in France and from Singapore, Australia, the United States and France.
The Attorney General’s Department had informed the court on 13 October that investigations had been completed and that steps were being taken to institute proceedings before a Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar. Today’s submissions confirmed that the indictment had been filed and a bench appointed.
