Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the second son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was arrested yesterday (25) morning by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation.

Following his arrest, the Acting Magistrate ordered him to be remanded until tomorrow (27). 

He will be presented before the Chief Magistrate in Court No. 4 on that date, when a decision on his bail application is expected, as confirmed by the Police.

The case centres on a 31.5-perch property in Sirimal Uyana, Ratmalana valued at Rs. 34 million, according to a Police media release. 

Investigators allege that the property has been acquired through illicit financial means and registered under the name of Yoshitha’s grandmother, Daisy Forrest. 

Forrest, who was earlier implicated in the case as the primary suspect, has already been granted bail. 

Following a recommendation by the Attorney General, on the sufficiency of evidence, Yoshitha Rajapaksa was arrested at 10.40 a.m. in Beliatta, the Rajapaksa family’s hometown.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Spokesperson Ravindra Manoj Gamage expressed concern over the timing and procedure of the arrest.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Gamage said: “Today, Yoshitha Rajapaksa was presented before the Acting Magistrate. The CID informed the court that in 2016, regarding a land case where he was a suspect, he had already been presented in court. The primary suspect, Daisy Forrest, has already been granted bail. After eight years, they have now decided to arrest Yoshitha.”

Gamage also questioned the necessity of the arrest being conducted in Beliatta, despite Yoshitha residing in Dehiwala. 

“This is a political drama,” Gamage remarked. “When a person is living in Dehiwala, on the outskirts of Colombo, there’s no need to go all the way to Beliatta to arrest him. If he had been summoned, he would have come by himself. Instead of summoning him, the CID travelled to Beliatta to make the arrest.”

Speaking to the media, Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa, brother of Yoshitha, also critiqued the Government’s procedure of arrest with sarcasm. 

“Had they asked us to come, we would have come by ourselves. Instead, they did not want us to waste fuel, so they sent their vehicles, escorted him with security, and brought him to Colombo. I only say, the Police should do its duty, but it should not become comedic in the process,” he said.