Namal Rajapaksa bail arguments reveal what prosecutors and defence told court over the alleged Rs. 100 million Airbus-linked bribery case.
The Namal Rajapaksa bail application in the Airbus deal will be decided on September 29, after the Colombo Magistrate’s Court considered submissions over the alleged receipt of a Rs. 100 million bribe.
Until then, Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama ordered Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa to remain in remand custody.
The Magistrate directed the defence to submit its written submissions on the bail request on September 22. He also ordered the Bribery Commission to file the prosecution’s written submissions on September 25. These dates and the September 29 bail ruling are also reported by multiple Sri Lankan news outlets.
Namal Rajapaksa Bail Application and Prosecution Submissions
When the case was called, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, appearing for the Bribery Commission, presented the prosecution’s position.
“Your Honour… this suspect was produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court the day before yesterday in connection with another case related to this bribery allegation and was remanded. It was a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act that he was produced before the Fort Magistrate’s Court. Since both types of charges, bribery as well as charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, have been revealed under this incident, this investigation is being conducted jointly by the Bribery Commission and the Criminal Investigation Department. According to the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act, the Bribery Commission also has the ability to obtain the assistance of the Attorney General for such an investigation.”
Bandara then informed court about the progress of the investigation.
“Your Honour.. in connection with this investigation, the Bribery Commission has recorded a statement from former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa. A statement was recorded from Mr. Chamal Rajapaksa regarding the holding of a SriLankan Airlines board meeting at the Speaker’s official residence and regarding the suspect named Shameendra Rajapaksa being abroad. In addition, statements were also recorded from two individuals named Susantha Chaminda Rathnayake and Dimuthu Sanjaya. This is an investigation extending up to the year 2012. The first suspect in this incident, Kapila Chandrasena, is now deceased. The second suspect, Priyanka Niyomali Wijenaike, has fled to Australia. The third suspect, Shameendra Rajapaksa, has also fled to America. A certificate has been submitted by the Director General of the Bribery Commission in accordance with Article 149 of the Anti-Corruption Act in relation to this suspect. When a certificate has been submitted, your Honour’s court can grant bail only in an instance where special circumstances are presented. On the previous occasion, you decided that the facts presented by the suspect’s lawyers were not special circumstances and rejected the bail request.”
The Deputy Solicitor General therefore asked the court to further remand Rajapaksa.
Namal Rajapaksa Bail Bid Fails as Court Extends Remand
Namal Rajapaksa bail bid fails as Colombo court extends his remand until September 29 over an alleged Rs. 100 million Airbus-linked bribe.
The Morning Telegraph • September 18, 2026 • 4 min readCourt Questions Steps Over Warrants
The Magistrate then asked Bandara, “This court issued warrants regarding two suspects in this case. What are the steps taken in that regard?”
Bandara responded: “Steps have already been taken to issue red notices through Interpol in connection with the warrant issued against the suspect named Shameendra Rajapaksa, who has currently fled to America. In addition, steps are being taken to obtain red notices regarding the second suspect, Priyanka Niyomali Wijenaike, who has fled to Australia. It is necessary to file indictments against the suspects to expedite these matters. The Criminal Investigation Department has submitted the investigation files related to this incident to the Attorney General’s Department. We are studying them. Therefore, we hope to conclude the investigations promptly and file indictments against all suspects soon,” he stated.
Contemporary reporting also records the prosecution telling court that steps were underway to obtain Interpol Red Notices in relation to the suspects referred to in the proceedings.
Defence Cites India Visit and Temple Ceremony
President’s Counsel Shamindra Fernando, appearing for Namal Rajapaksa, then presented the defence case for bail.
“Your Honour… on the previous occasion, you rejected the suspect’s bail request, deciding that there were no special circumstances. But even after that, special circumstances have emerged regarding this suspect. Your Honour… an international-level investigation has been conducted regarding the Airbus deal. The name of this suspect is not mentioned anywhere in the relevant report. This suspect has been remanded based on a statement made by a person named Nimal Perera. Nimal Perera, who is in Australia, stated in a statement at one point that this money did not come into his account. Also, the Criminal Investigation Department pointed out through B reports at one point that Nimal Perera had made false statements. If the bribe money said to be connected to this incident had come into Nimal Perera’s account, he should be presented as an accomplice to the crime. In addition, this suspect, who is in remand custody, has received an invitation from the Indian government to go on a tour of India. Since he has been remanded, that tour also has to be cancelled. I request that this also be considered a special circumstance. In addition, the Hanguranketha annual Esala Perahera is scheduled to be held in the future. This perahera is second only to the Kandy Dalada Perahera. The Chief Incumbent of the temple has invited this suspect to deposit a pinnacle at the temple at 7.42 pm on September 26, the time when that perahera is held. But since this suspect has been remanded, that task also cannot be fulfilled. That is a disrespect to the Venerable Thero who extended the invitation.”
Fernando asked the court to treat those matters as special circumstances and grant bail. The Indian government invitation and September 26 religious ceremony were also reported as grounds advanced by the defence.
Bribery Commission Rejects Special Circumstances Claim
Responding to the Namal Rajapaksa bail application, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara disputed the defence arguments.
“Your Honour… you gave an order on the previous occasion regarding the credibility of the person named Nimal Perera. A decision regarding the credibility of that witness can be given only at a trial. At this moment, it cannot be considered. Therefore, that cannot be considered a special circumstance. The facts presented regarding the Indian tour as well as the depositing of a pinnacle at a temple cannot be considered special circumstances either. Recently, Supreme Court Justice Janak de Silva delivered a judgment. Through that judgment, it was emphasized how one should act free of corruption according to Buddhist philosophy. Through the Anguttara Nikaya and the Sutta Pitaka, the judge pointed out the importance of refraining from corruption in accordance with Buddhist philosophy. Also, he clarified how one should act righteously. It would be good if such a situation arose. But these facts cannot be considered special circumstances. An investigation is currently being conducted regarding an incident named ‘Weligama Bay’ as well. There too, information has been revealed regarding the receipt of suspicious money exceeding Rs. 175 million. That money has also been received into Nimal Perera’s account.”
Bandara therefore maintained that no special circumstances had been presented to justify granting bail to Rajapaksa at this stage. News 1st separately reported his argument that the proposed India visit and religious ceremony did not amount to exceptional circumstances.
After considering submissions from both sides, Chief Magistrate Bodaragama ordered Rajapaksa to remain in remand custody. The court will announce its decision on the bail request on September 29.
