Former Minister's Son Arrested for Bribery to Release Drug Smuggler

Colombo. Former Justice Minister of Sri Lanka, Vijayadas Rajapaksa's son, Rakitha Rajapaksa has been arrested on charges of taking a bribe to release a notorious drug smuggler. This latest action against a person with high political connections is being seen as significant amidst a stepped-up anti-corruption campaign.

Sri Lanka's main anti-corruption investigation body took Rakitha Rajapaksa into custody on Thursday. He is accused of transacting a large bribe to release Nadun Chintaka, a key suspect in drug trafficking who was brought back to the country from Madagascar with Interpol's help in 2023.

According to officials, a bribe of approximately 500 million Sri Lankan Rupees was demanded for the release. The Bribery Investigation Commission has stated that Rakitha Rajapaksa had already received about 120 million Rupees of this amount.

At the time of the incident, his father Vijayadas Rajapaksa was serving as the Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms. However, the plan to release the drug smuggler could not be implemented as the then government was defeated in the general election of 2024.

Nadun Chintaka is known by the name 'Harak Kata'. Sri Lanka Police have described him as one of the country's most dangerous drug smugglers. He is accused of operating a criminal network and is currently in judicial custody.

The anti-corruption campaign has been intensified since the leftist President Anura Kumar Disanayake came to power in September last year. Since then, investigations and actions against high-level political and influential individuals have increased. Rakitha Rajapaksa is the latest high-profile individual to be arrested.

Officials have clarified that the family of Vijayadas Rajapaksa is not related to the Rajapaksa political family that dominated Sri Lankan politics from 2005 to 2022. Some members of that political lineage are facing cases related to money laundering and abuse of power.