Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa has been ordered to remain in remand custody until September 23 in a money-laundering investigation connected to alleged financial irregularities arising from SriLankan Airlines' Airbus aircraft procurement.
Rajapaksa was produced before Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena on September 16 in proceedings brought in connection with the Criminal Investigation Department's money-laundering investigation.
He had previously been named as a suspect in the investigation following instructions from the Attorney General's Department.
The Fort Magistrate's Court ordered that he remain in remand custody until September 23.
The money-laundering investigation is legally distinct from the separate bribery case arising from the Airbus transaction in which Rajapaksa had already been remanded until September 18 following proceedings initiated by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.
Although both proceedings arise from matters connected with the SriLankan Airlines Airbus procurement, they involve separate investigations and should not be conflated.
During the September 16 Fort Magistrate's Court proceedings, the prosecution outlined allegations concerning financial transactions investigators say are linked to the Airbus matter.
Those financial allegations remain allegations being pursued through the criminal-investigation and judicial process.
The court's decision to remand Rajapaksa does not constitute a finding that he is guilty of money laundering or of the alleged underlying financial conduct.
The case is due to return to court on September 23, when further proceedings, including consideration of his bail application, are expected.