Thiloththama Jayasinghe , Editor
The CID arrested Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the second son of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act on January 25, 2025. The arrest is connected with the land case of his grandmother, Daisy Forrest alias 'Daisy Achchi', regarding a property at Sirimal Pedesa, Ratmalana. Rajapaksa, arrested in Beliatta, was brought to the CID headquarters in Colombo and interrogated before being remanded.
This is not the first time Yoshitha Rajapaksa has fallen into legal trouble. In January 2016, he was arrested and remanded over alleged financial irregularities at the Carlton Sports Network for money laundering involving Rs. 365 million, criminal breach of trust, and forgery. He was later released on bail in March 2016.
The recent arrest comes amid increased scrutiny of the Rajapaksa family by the current government, which has pledged to address alleged wrongdoings during Mahinda Rajapaksa's presidency from 2005 to 2015. Other family members, including Yoshitha's uncle, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and his elder brother, legislator Namal Rajapaksa, have also been questioned by authorities in connection with separate property cases.
For the time being, Yoshitha Rajapaksa remains in detention as court cases are underway.
The Rajapaksa family has dominated political life in Sri Lanka for the last several decades, with many family members holding influential positions in the government.
Mahinda Rajapaksa served as President from 2005 to 2015, during which he led the defeat of the LTTE in 2009, bringing an end to a 26-year civil war. The administration brought peace, but there was criticism over alleged human rights abuses, suppression of press freedom, and the consolidation of power in the family. His brother, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who served as Defense Secretary at the time of the civil war, was elected President in 2019 on a promise to ensure security and economic stability. Under Gotabaya, the Rajapaksa family retained a firm grip on most of the portfolios, with Mahinda as Prime Minister and a number of relatives as ministers.
The government is since blamed for mismanaging the economy to create the worst financial crisis since Sri Lanka gained independence. Among these were badly timed tax cuts, poor fiscal management, and a foreign exchange crisis that accelerated inflation and caused food and fuel shortages. The 2022 crisis sparked nationwide protests that saw Gotabaya flee the country and resign as President in what was seen as a major blow to the family's political grip on power. Wickremesinghe, who succeeded Gotabaya as President, has taken on a more technocratic approach to governance in efforts to stabilize the economy and regain international credibility. He introduced reforms aiming to secure financing from the International Monetary Fund in exchange, but his regime was criticized for siding with the elite and harshly suppressing whatever dissent it perceived.
This government has kept the Rajapaksa brothers at arm's length by pandering to public concerns amid efforts at containing both the political and economic repercussions of their leadership. Despite this, the Rajapaksa family still retains a loyal support base, indicating their enduring influence in Sri Lankan politics.
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