COLOMBO – Legal proceedings regarding the 2012 corruption case involving Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa intensified this week, as the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court navigated heated arguments over bail and the status of key suspects currently overseas.
During the hearing, the defence team for Rajapaksa urged the court to grant bail, citing “exceptional circumstances,” including a scheduled visit to India and an invitation to participate in a religious ceremony at a temple in Hanguranketha. President’s Counsel Shavindra Fernando argued that his client’s name did not appear in international reports or previous commission findings concerning the Airbus transaction. He further challenged the credibility of the primary witness, Nimal Perera, alleging that if bribe money had been funneled through Perera’s account, he should be viewed as an accomplice rather than a witness.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, vehemently opposed the bail request. Representing the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), Bandara maintained that under the Anti-Corruption Act, bail is restricted unless truly exceptional circumstances are proven—a threshold he argued the defence failed to meet.
To underscore the gravity of the charges, the Deputy Solicitor General invoked a profound passage from a Supreme Court judgment referencing Buddhist philosophy on the ethics of leadership. He argued that the moral burden of the accused in a corruption case far outweighs personal travel or social engagements. Addressing the defence’s claims regarding the witness’s credibility, Bandara retorted that such matters are reserved for trial, noting that the accused should have exercised greater scrutiny before conducting transactions with individuals like Perera.
The case involves a complex web of actors. The first suspect, Kapila Chandrasena, has passed away, while two others—Priyanka Neomali Wijenayake and Shashindra Rajapaksa—are currently evading authorities abroad. The prosecution confirmed that efforts are underway to secure Red Notices via Interpol to bring the two fugitives to justice. Joint investigations are currently being conducted by CIABOC and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), with the Attorney General’s office actively reviewing evidence to expedite the filing of formal indictments.
Regarding the defence’s claim that an invitation from the Indian government necessitated Rajapaksa’s release, sources close to the matter clarified that the invitation originated from the office of the Indian Leader of the Opposition and was extended well before the MP’s recent arrest.
In concluding the session, the Chief Magistrate ordered both parties to submit their arguments in writing. The defence must submit its formal bail application by September 22, while the Bribery Commission is required to file its objections by September 25. Namal Rajapaksa remains in remand custody, where he will stay until at least the next scheduled court appearance.
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