MP Namal Rajapaksa has been further remanded until September 30 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court in the money-laundering proceeding linked to the SriLankan Airlines Airbus procurement.
The court had previously fixed September 23 for consideration of his bail application.
At the latest hearing, however, the Magistrate directed the Criminal Investigation Department to clarify several matters relating to the bail application and submit the relevant information to court on September 30.
The court is expected to deliver its order on the bail application after considering that information.
### Bail has not been finally determined
Earlier reporting characterised the latest development as a rejection of bail.
Current more detailed court reporting indicates instead that the court sought further CID clarification and postponed the bail determination while keeping Rajapaksa in remand custody until September 30.
Sineth News therefore should not state that bail was definitively rejected at the September 23 hearing.
### Separate money-laundering proceeding
This proceeding concerns allegations of money laundering associated with the Airbus procurement investigation.
Rajapaksa has been named as a suspect in the proceeding.
The allegations have not been established by a conviction, and he retains the presumption of innocence.
### Separate bribery case remains distinct
This money-laundering proceeding must not be conflated with the separate CIABOC bribery case associated with the Airbus transaction.
That separate case remains on its own court timetable, including a September 29 remand date previously reported by Sineth News.
The two proceedings should continue to be tracked independently.