SLPP parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa was produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday in two separate corruption matters on the same day, and left in custody in both. Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama refused his bail application in the SriLankan Airlines Airbus case and extended his remand to October 13, and remanded him to October 6 in the Bribery Commission’s Krrish case.
Hiru News reported that he was brought to court for both proceedings, which were deliberately listed together.
Airbus: bail refused, and an indictment is being prepared
The court “ruled that sufficient grounds had not been presented to justify granting bail,” NewsFirst reported. His remand in that matter had been due to expire on September 30.
The more consequential disclosure came from the prosecution. Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, for the Attorney General, told the court that investigations into both the alleged Airbus bribery and the related money laundering allegations are complete, that the extracts have already gone to the Attorney General, and that steps are under way to file a joint indictment covering both investigations.
That moves the Airbus matter out of the investigative stage. Rajapaksa was arrested on September 4 over an alleged Rs. 100 million bribe and has been in custody since; his bail was also refused last week.
Krrish: India says the money was laundered
In the Krrish case, the Daily Mirror reported a materially new allegation: the CIABOC investigating officer told the court that the Indian Government had notified that the funds used in the Krrish transaction were proceeds generated through money laundering.
No outlet reported through what channel the notification came, when it was received, or which Indian agency made the finding. It is the first indication that a foreign government has characterised the source of the money, and it broadens the case beyond a domestic bribery allegation.
The commission named Rajapaksa the fourth suspect on Monday. Hiru describes the case as filed against four individuals, who are accused of accepting bribes over the leasing of the Urban Development Authority’s Transworks Square in Colombo Fort to Krrish Company (Pvt) Ltd. The alleged payment is Rs. 70 million, made in three instalments.
The sitting changed nothing on the Krrish calendar
The Krrish case had already been fixed for October 6. The commission asked for it to be advanced to Tuesday so it could be called while Rajapaksa was in court for the Airbus matter — and the court has now remanded him in it back to October 6.
The net effect on that timetable is nil. The purpose of the sitting was to put his suspect status formally before the court, not to move the case forward. October 6 is also the date to which former Krrish executive director Janaki Siriwardena was remanded on September 24.
Not reported
No outlet reported whether bail was sought or refused in the Krrish matter specifically — Newswire’s account frames the October 6 order as a refusal, while the Daily Mirror reports only the remand. Neither carries a response from Rajapaksa or his counsel, and none gives a timeframe for the joint indictment.
