Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption authorities have arrested the son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in an ongoing bribery inquiry, local media sources said.
The arrest was purportedly made by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, or Bribery Commission. The allegations have not yet been fully published by officials but the move is one of the most high-profile taken by the agency in recent months.
Local media named the suspect as Yoshitha Rajapaksa, a member of one of Sri Lanka’s most powerful political families. The Rajapaksa family has been a strong force in Sri Lankan politics for decades and various relatives have held important posts in government.
The arrest is a part of broader attempts by Sri Lanka’s current leadership to boost anti-corruption measures and restore public confidence in government institutions after years of economic and political instability. Officials have promised to investigate accusations of misbehaviour irrespective of political party.
Details of the precise charges, judicial processes or any bail terms were not immediately available. So far, officials of the Bribery Commission have not made a complete public comment on the subject.
Supporters of the anti-corruption push applauded the move as an indication that authorities are willing to pursue investigations involving senior political figures. But other enquiries targeting former officials have been politically motivated, allies of the Rajapaksa family have contended in the past.
The case is certain to receive considerable public attention in Sri Lanka, where corruption and governance reforms remain major political topics in the wake of the country’s economic crisis and subsequent calls for greater accountability from public authorities.
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“Investigators will provide evidence and pursue further action through the courts. Legal proceedings are anticipated to extend into the next few days.
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