The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has frozen several bank accounts and luxury vehicles belonging to Rakitha Rajapakshe, son of former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, a senior Commission official confirmed.
The action was taken under the Proceeds of Crime Act, No. 5 of 2025, as part of an ongoing investigation, according to reports.
The investigation concerns an allegation that Rs. 120 million was demanded and obtained as a bribe from the wife of an organised criminal, in exchange for helping the criminal. The allegation has not been tested in court.
A team of Commission officials went to Rajapakshe’s residence in Nawala on Thursday to deliver an official notice about the freezing of his bank accounts and vehicles.
The Commission had earlier reported facts to the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court over the alleged bribery. Rakitha Rajapakshe was named as the first suspect. Charitha Abeysinghe and Waruna Handige Aruna Chathuranga were named as the second and third suspects.
All three were earlier remanded in custody and have since been released on bail.
Background
CIABOC is the state body that investigates allegations of bribery and corruption and can file cases in the courts. A suspect is presumed innocent until a court finds otherwise, and being named a suspect in a magistrate’s court report is not a finding of guilt.
The Proceeds of Crime Act, No. 5 of 2025, is the law under which the Commission acted in this case. Laws of this kind allow authorities to freeze assets they believe may be linked to criminal proceeds while an inquiry continues. Freezing an asset restricts its use or transfer and does not by itself mean it has been forfeited to the state.
Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe is a former Justice Minister. The reports did not say that he is a suspect in this investigation.
What it means
For readers, the case shows how asset-freezing powers are being used in bribery investigations, alongside the more familiar steps of arrest, remand and bail. The freezing of the accounts and vehicles restricts what Rakitha Rajapakshe can do with them while the investigation continues.
Whether the case proceeds to indictment, and what happens to the frozen assets, will be decided by the Commission and the courts. No date for the next step in the case was given in the reports.
