Yoshitha Rajapaksa Remanded Over Money Laundering Allegations

Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the second son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on the morning of January 25, 2025. He was subsequently produced before the Aluthkade No. 5 Additional Magistrate, Pavithra Sanjeevani, after providing a statement to the CID.

The arrest pertains to an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act concerning the acquisition of a house and land valued at Rs. 34 million located at Sirimal Place, Ratmalana. Following the court proceedings, Magistrate Sanjeevani ordered that Rajapaksa be remanded until January 27, 2025.

This development follows recent inquiries involving Rajapaksa. On January 3, 2025, he appeared before the CID to provide a statement regarding the ownership of a government-owned land in Kataragama. This was part of an ongoing investigation that also involved Major Neville Wanniarachchi, the former personal security officer to Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was questioned in late December 2024.

Yoshitha Rajapaksa has previously faced legal challenges. In June 2016, he was granted bail after appearing before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate concerning a property case in Dehiwala.

The current remand order underscores the ongoing legal scrutiny surrounding the Rajapaksa family and their associates.