Namal Rajapaksa indicted on 24 charges over Airbus transaction

Newswire and Sri Lanka Mirror report that, on October 27, indictments were filed at Colombo’s Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar against Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa and three others in connection with the Airbus transaction. Newswire says the allegations involve money laundering and accepting a Rs. 100 million bribe.

Newswire and Sri Lanka Mirror say Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara told Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama that the Chief Justice had approved the filing. Newswire reports that the indictment contains 24 charges and lists 59 witnesses. Both outlets say Bandara expected the Magistrate’s Court to conclude its consideration of the matter that day; Sri Lanka Mirror also reported that a hearing there was scheduled for later on October 27.

Newswire reports that the Magistrate directed Rajapaksa to appear before the Trial-at-Bar on October 28, remain in custody until that appearance, and have a report on the proceedings sent to the Magistrate’s Court by October 30. Hiru News (සිංහල) likewise reports that he was to be held until appearing before the three-judge High Court. Newsfirst and Newsfirst (සිංහල), however, report that the court ordered custody through October 29.

Daily Mirror reports that President’s Counsel Ali Sabry filed a bail motion for Rajapaksa in the Krrish deal case, citing his mother’s medical condition. Ada Derana reports that the court ordered the Bribery Commission to respond to the application the following day. Ada Derana (தமிழ்) reports on the Krrish-linked bribery matter.