Sri Lankan lawmaker faces 24 charges in Airbus bribery case

· Aviation · Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan lawmaker Namal Rajapaksa faces 24 charges over an alleged bribe of 100 million rupees, about $1 million, linked to Airbus. The case adds to the long-running fallout from Airbus's past corruption settlements, which have touched procurement decisions in several countries. The charges against a sitting legislator and member of a prominent political family raise the stakes: they connect a major aircraft manufacturer's sales practices to national politics and could affect how defence and aviation procurement is scrutinised in Sri Lanka. Airbus previously reached settlements over bribery allegations with authorities in Europe. The report does not detail the specific transaction at issue.

Why it matters：It shows procurement-corruption cases from aircraft sales still surfacing years after settlements, keeping compliance risk live for manufacturers and buyers worldwide.

Key points

  • Namal Rajapaksa faces 24 charges.
  • The alleged bribe is about 100 million rupees, or roughly $1 million.
  • The case is linked to Airbus.

Sources (original reporting)

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