June 25, LNW (Colombo):Rakitha Rajapakshe, the son of former Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over allegations linked to an underworld figure.
CIABOC also arrested Charith Abeysinghe, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) organiser for the Horana electorate, in connection with the same investigation.
According to the Bribery Commission, the two suspects are accused of soliciting and accepting a bribe from Madhushika Madhuwanthi, the wife of organised crime figure Nandun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, alias “Harak Kata,” during a meeting in Dubai in 2023.
Investigators allege that the suspects initially demanded Rs. 500 million in exchange for arranging the removal of Harak Kata’s detention orders, preventing his alleged killing by police, facilitating his transfer from the high-security Boossa Prison to another correctional facility, and securing his release from ongoing investigations and related legal proceedings.
The alleged bribe demand was later reduced to Rs. 200 million, with an advance payment of Rs. 120 million reportedly requested and received.
The arrests were made as part of an ongoing investigation by CIABOC. Further inquiries are underway, and the suspects are expected to be produced before the relevant court.