COLOMBO: Namal Rajapaksa, 38, the elder son of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has been indicted in the Colombo High Court for allegedly misappropriating 70 million Sri Lankan rupees from the Krrish Transworks Square project. The funds, intended for a major real estate development in Colombo, were purportedly diverted to support rugby development, a sport in which Namal has been an international player.
The Krrish project, initiated by India’s Krrish Group, aimed to establish a significant commercial presence in Colombo’s heart. However, the project stalled, leaving an unfinished structure that has raised safety concerns due to its dilapidated state.
In June 2016, authorities arrested Namal Rajapaksa over allegations of misusing project funds. Recent developments have seen the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) launching a separate inquiry into the same financial irregularities. The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court has scheduled further hearings for June 4, 2025, pending advice from the Attorney General.
Namal Rajapaksa has publicly denounced the legal actions as a political witch hunt against his family. The Rajapaksa family has faced increased scrutiny, with the government recently pressuring former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to vacate his official residence and reducing his personal security.
Source: Web Team, C6N
