Former Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s son Rakhitha and SJB Horana Organiser Charith Abeysinghe arrested

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption arrested Lawyer Rakhitha Nirmala Rajapaksha, the son of former Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Wijeyadasa Rajapakse; Charitha Vasantha Kumara Abeysinghe, the Horana organiser for Samagi Jana Balawegaya; and Warusha Hennadige Aruna Sri Chathuranga, a former director of Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka of the Civil Aviation Authority.

The commission stated that the arrests were made today (25) for soliciting a bribe from Madhushika Madhuwanthi, the wife of alleged organised criminal Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, alias 'Harakkata', in Dubai in the year 2023.

The bribe was requested to prevent the police from killing the suspect, who was detained under detention orders by the Criminal Investigation Department, to secure his release from investigation activities and related matters, and to have his detention orders removed to transfer him to a prison other than the Boossa High-Security Prison in Galle.

They were arrested in connection with soliciting a bribe of Rs. 500 million from the suspect’s wife, which was later reduced to Rs. 200 million, and subsequently demanding and accepting Rs. 120 million from that amount as an advance.

The three suspects are to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.