Court orders CID to arrest Shamindra Rajapaksa in connection with Airbus financial fraud

Tuesday, 3 February 2026 04:16 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to arrest Shamindra Rajapaksa, the youngest son of former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, who is currently in the US.

It was ordered to produce Shamindra Rajapaksa before Court in connection with a Magisterial inquiry into alleged financial fraud relating to the purchase of 14 Airbus aircraft for the national carrier SriLankan Airlines.

Meanwhile, the CID has named Shamindra Rajapaksa as the third suspect in the case.

Former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena and his wife, Priyanka Wijeynayake, have been named as the first and second suspects, respectively. They are accused of accepting a bribe of $ 2 million from a French Airbus company and laundering the funds in connection with the purchase of 14 Airbus aircraft in 2013.