Colombo, Sep 18 (PTI) A Sri Lankan court on Friday deferred the bail hearing of opposition leader Namal Rajapaksa, who is in remand custody in a case involving alleged corruption in the purchase of Airbus aircraft.
Rajapaksa, 40, the elder son of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and leader of the opposition Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party in Parliament, appeared before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.
His lawyers sought bail, but the court directed that the application be formally presented on September 22. The anti-graft commission has been given until September 25 to file objections, after which the court will deliver its decision on September 28.
Rajapaksa has been in custody since September 4 after his arrest in connection with the case.
He is facing two separate cases linked to the controversial purchase of Airbus aircraft by SriLankan Airlines in 2012-13 — one involving an alleged LKR 100 crore bribe from Airbus and another concerning alleged money laundering and financial irregularities.
Rajapaksa was on Wednesday remanded until September 23 in the proceedings related to the money laundering case.
The case relates to alleged corruption involving USD 800,000 (around LKR 26.5 crore) in the purchase of wide-bodied Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines during his father’s presidency.
Rajapaksa’s arrest is the first remand of a member of the former first family since the National People’s Power (NPP) government came to power two years ago.
The government has maintained that action against opposition politicians is in line with the NPP government’s 2024 election pledge to clean public life and eradicate corruption.
The opposition SLPP has accused the government of politically victimising Rajapaksa through the case and his continued remand.
Rajapaksa’s siblings have also faced allegations of wrongdoing, which the family has described as politically motivated. His cousin Shashindra Rajapaksa is currently out on bail after being remanded earlier this year. PTI CORR FHK FHK
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