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Sri Lanka arrests son of ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa for corruption

Yoshitha Rajapaksa is accused of tapping state funds for overseas training during his career as a naval officer

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Yoshitha Rajapaksa arrives at the Hulftsdorp Chief Magistrate’s Court in Colombo on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Agence France-Presse
The son of Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapaksa was arrested on Wednesday on corruption charges, the anti-bribery commission said, the latest case to target the once all-powerful political clan.

Yoshitha Rajapaksa, 38, is accused of tapping state funds for overseas training during his career as a naval officer.

The Bribery Commission said he was being investigated for having risen through the ranks without the necessary qualifications and going to Britain for government-funded officer training.

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He was already an accused in two money-laundering cases and subject to a foreign travel ban, and had been out on bail until his detention.

“He was arrested on a charge of aiding and abetting, in connection with his recruitment without the minimum qualifications, and subsequently using state funds for overseas training,” the commission said in a statement.

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Yoshitha attended a prestigious course at Dartmouth, Britain’s naval college.

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa attends the anniversary ceremony of the end of Sri Lanka’s Tamil separatist war at his residence in Colombo on May 18. Photo: AFP
Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa attends the anniversary ceremony of the end of Sri Lanka’s Tamil separatist war at his residence in Colombo on May 18. Photo: AFP
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