The revolving doors of Sri Lanka’s justice system presented a bizarre spectacle today at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, as Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa found himself appearing in court under armed prison escort despite having officially secured bail in the very case being heard.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama ordered the lawmaker to re-appear on November 20 in connection with the ongoing bribery probe into the controversial 70 million rupee Krrish real estate transaction. The Magistrate further instructed prison authorities to produce Rajapaksa from custody on that date should he remain remanded, highlighting the multi-layered legal net keeping the young politician behind bars.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption produced both Rajapaksa and former Krrish Group Director Janaki Siriwardena before the court. While Rajapaksa secured bail in the Krrish case on November 3, Siriwardena was further remanded until November 20.
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During proceedings, prosecutors revealed that forensic science is now entering the investigation. An Assistant Director from the Bribery Commission informed the court that a key document containing handwriting attributed to Rajapaksa has been referred to the Government Analyst’s Department for verification. Investigators have already recorded statements from the Colombo Divisional Secretary and a former Land Commissioner, and plan to question Urban Development Authority officials regarding the transfer of prime Transworks Square land in Colombo Fort to the Indian firm Krrish.
The forensic check hit an administrative snag when prosecutors requested an order to release the original document currently filed in Colombo High Court No. 7. Chief Magistrate Bodaragama noted that the request was missing from the formal progress report and directed the Commission to file a properly documented motion.
Yet, securing bail in the real estate probe offers Rajapaksa no path to freedom. His continued detention stems from a separate indictment issued by the Colombo Permanent Trial-at-Bar High Court on October 28 regarding the SriLankan Airlines Airbus procurement deal. In that case, the High Court remanded him over twenty-four charges, including the alleged acceptance of a 100 million rupee bribe.
Winning bail in the Krrish case offered brief headline relief, but forensic handwriting analysis and the unyielding weight of the Airbus indictment have proved immediate and uncompromising. As prison guards escort Namal Rajapaksa back to his cell, his legal team faces an increasingly uphill battle across multiple judicial fronts.
