Deflecting Blame Onto My Family Is the Easiest Way Out, Says Namal

by Zulfick Farzan 26-02-2025 | 11:49 AM

Deflecting Blame Onto My Family Is the Easiest Way Out

COLOMBO (News 1st); Namal Rajapaksa, Member of Parliament and National Organizer of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) was at the Criminal Investigations Department on Wednesday (26) morning for an inquiry over the infamous Airbus deal.

Rajapaksa revealed that he was summoned over the Airbus matter, pointing out that the individuals currently leading the probe are the same ones who served in the anti-corruption committee during the previous Yahapalana government.

He expressed frustration that any criminal, murderer, or corrupt individual in the country could easily deflect blame onto the Rajapaksa family to evade justice. Rajapaksa suggested that those with millions could now claim they left the money on his desk as a way to show their wealth and avoid accountability.

Namal Rajapaksa, National Organizer of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), was summoned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to provide a statement regarding a transaction involving SriLankan Airlines.

The Ministry of Public Security stated that Rajapaksa is being called to give a statement about the infamous Airbus deal involving Kapila Chandrasena, the former CEO of SriLankan Airlines.

In 2013, a deal was discussed to purchase 10 Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.

An investigation by the UK's Serious Fraud Office revealed that this transaction involved a bribe of USD 16.84 million.

It was also discovered that USD 2 million had been transferred to an account in Brunei belonging to Kapila Chandrasena's wife, with subsequent transfers to other accounts.

Despite legal actions, arrests, and bail conditions, this investigation had not surfaced prominently until now.

Namal Rajapaksa has been summoned to the CID for further questioning.

In response, the SLPP held an urgent press conference on Tuesday (25).

"MP Namal Rajapaksa has been summoned to the CID tomorrow to provide a statement regarding the Airbus deal that occurred over a decade ago. These allegations were initially brought up during the Yahapalana government but were never proven. This is a blatant attempt to falsely implicate the Rajapaksa family once again," said Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam, the SLPP General Secretary.

"The government blames the Rajapaksas for every issue in the country. We urge them to stop this baseless blame game. If they cannot handle the situation, they should step down and hand over the Ministry of Defense to Gotabaya Rajapaksa for a month. He has the experience and leadership as the Former Defence Secretary to resolve these issues effectively," said Attorney-at-Law Manoj Gamage, the Spokesperson for Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.