Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna National Organiser and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa left the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) on Friday afternoon after recording a statement, Ada Derana, NewsFirst and Daily Mirror all reported.
He had arrived at the division that morning in response to a summons issued in connection with an ongoing investigation.
How long he was questioned
The two outlets that timed the session differ. NewsFirst reported that he gave a statement for “nearly five hours,” while Daily Mirror put it at “nearly six hours.” Ada Derana did not give a duration, reporting only that he left after providing his statement.
What the inquiry concerns
Of the three outlets, only NewsFirst reported the subject of the investigation. It said the summons was issued in connection with an inquiry into the purchase of the Tangalle Bay Hotel using funds obtained from Channel CSN.
Ada Derana and Daily Mirror both described the matter only as an ongoing FCID investigation and did not identify it. Police have not publicly stated an allegation against the MP in connection with Friday’s summons, and no charges have been reported.
Carlton Sports Network, the broadcaster generally referred to as CSN, is already the subject of separate long-running proceedings against another member of the family. Rajapaksa’s brother Yoshitha is before the Colombo High Court in a money laundering case concerning assets linked to the failed network, in which he has pleaded not guilty.
Existing proceedings
Namal Rajapaksa, a son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, is separately before the courts in his own money laundering case. That Colombo High Court trial is set to resume on October 29.
Whether Friday’s questioning feeds into that case or a distinct inquiry has not been reported. An FCID investigation does not in itself indicate that charges will follow.
The MP has denied wrongdoing in the matters previously brought against him. He contested the 2024 presidential election and remains one of the SLPP’s most prominent figures in Parliament.
