Yoshitha Rajapaksa, Son of Former President of Sri Lanka, Arrested on Money Laundering Charges
: Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the son of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was placed under a travel ban on Monday after his arrest on money laundering charges.
Yoshitha Rajapaksa, Son of Former President of Sri Lanka, Arrested on Money Laundering Charges
Yoshitha Rajapaksa, Son of Former President of Sri Lanka, Arrested on Money Laundering Charges
Colombo, January 27, 2025: Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the son of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was placed under a travel ban on Monday after his arrest on money laundering charges.
This ongoing case has gained new momentum following the election victory of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who has pledged to combat widespread corruption.
According to police, Yoshitha Rajapaksa could not account for the funds used to purchase a property during his father's presidency (2005-2015). In 2016, he was arrested in a separate money laundering case related to the purchase of a television network.
Investigating officers claim that Yoshitha spent 100 million rupees ($344,000) to purchase the property, but the source of this money is unclear. He stated that he raised the funds by selling a small bag of gems, though he was unable to provide a clear explanation of where his grand-aunt had acquired the precious stones.
Yoshitha, a former naval officer, was released on bail by a magistrate in Colombo after two days of detention, posting a bond of 100 million rupees.
His older brother, Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa, is also facing separate money laundering charges, which are still pending trial.
President Dissanayake, who assumed office in September 2024, has vowed to expedite the resolution of these pending cases and recover assets allegedly stashed abroad. The government is providing additional resources to the Criminal Investigation Department to speed up the prosecution process, according to government spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa.
Meanwhile, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s younger brother, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, resigned as president in 2022 due to a popular revolt triggered by the economic crisis. Gotabaya also faces corruption charges related to military procurements during his tenure as a top defense official under Mahinda’s presidency.
