Bribery Commission arrests Rakitha Rajapaksa, SJB organizer over Rs 120Mn bribe

Colombo, June 25 (Daily Mirror) - Attorney-at-Law Rakitha Nirmala Rajapaksa, son of former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Horana organizer Charith Abeysinghe, and former Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Corporation Director Warusha Hennadige Aruna Sri Chaturanga were arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

According to the Commission, the arrests were made in connection with an investigation into the solicitation and acceptance of a large-scale bribe linked to underworld figure and alleged drug kingpin Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, alias “Harak Kata”.

The CIABOC said that the suspects had initially demanded Rs. 500 million from Madhushika Madhuwanthi, the wife of Harak Kata, during meetings held in Dubai in 2023. The amount was later reduced to Rs. 200 million, of which Rs. 120 million was allegedly obtained as an advance payment.

Investigators allege that the suspects promised to use political and legal influence to ensure Harak Kata’s safety while in custody, secure the cancellation of his detention orders issued by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), prevent his transfer to the high-security Boossa Prison, and facilitate his release from ongoing criminal investigations and legal proceedings.

Harak Kata was under CID detention orders at the time the alleged transactions took place.

The three suspects are due to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, while further investigations are being conducted by CIABOC.