Sajith's Right Hand Charith and Ex-Justice Minister's Son Rakitha Arrested in Massive Bribery Scandal

COLOMBO (News 1st); Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s close aide and “right hand” Charith Abeysinghe, along with former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa’s son Rakitha Rajapaksa, have been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption in connection with a high-profile bribery investigation involving hundreds of millions of rupees.

The arrests were made as part of an ongoing probe into allegations that a massive bribe was solicited in relation to notorious organized crime figure and large-scale drug trafficker Nadun Chinthaka, widely known as “Harak Kata,” who was being detained under detention orders by the Criminal Investigation Department.

According to investigators, the suspects are accused of demanding 500 million rupees, claiming they could intervene to prevent Harak Kata from being killed while in police custody, secure the removal of his detention order, arrange for his transfer from the high-security Boossa Prison in Galle to another prison, and ultimately facilitate his release from ongoing investigations and related legal proceedings.

Authorities further allege that an advance of 120 million rupees had already been obtained as part of the arrangement.

The Bribery Commission revealed that the initial demand was made in 2023 in Dubai to Harak Kata’s wife, Madhushika Madhuwanti.

Officials stated that the amount was later reduced from 500 million rupees to 200 million rupees, with 120 million rupees allegedly collected as an advance payment.

The arrests follow a prolonged investigation launched after an anonymous complaint was received by the Bribery Commission on March 4 last year. Officials noted that extensive inquiries and evidence gathering were carried out before sufficient grounds were established to arrest the suspects.

In a related development, Aruna Sri Warushahennedige, a former director of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited, has also been taken into custody over his alleged involvement in the same incident, further expanding the scope of what is emerging as a major corruption probe with alleged links to organized crime networks.

The suspects are expected to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court as investigations continue.

Meanwhile, former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa later arrived at the Bribery Commission to inquire into matters concerning his son.