Sri Lanka arrests ex-leader’s son over money laundering

Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse’s son was arrested on Saturday after he was grilled for hours over allegations of corruption.

Yoshitha, a navy lieutenant, was taken before a magistrate court in a suburb of Colombo and remanded, a court official said, adding that four other suspects were also held along with the former president’s son.

He declined to specify the offense but said the navy allowed the financial crimes investigators to question Rajapaksa at the navy headquarters before his arrest.

CSN was controversially handed over Sri Lankan cricket’s television broadcast rights under the Rajapaksa regime.

Rajapaksa in July attempted to phase a remarkable comeback as Sri Lanka voted to choose a 225-member Parliament.

Yoshitha Rajapaksa among four detained after long probe into alleged financial offences linked to TV station. A brother who was a former government minister was arrested earlier and charged with misusing state funds.

Yoshitha is the closest family member of former president Rajapakse to be arrested.

Mahinda, who lost the election a year ago, has accused the new government of leading a witch hunt targeting his family.

CSN was launched by Yoshitha Rajapaksa when Mahinda Rajapaksa was President and the network was given exclusive rights to cricket matches featuring Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka witnessed a huge political change in the beginning of last year when Sirisena trounced Rajapaksa in the January 8 presidential race, ending his 10-year-rule.