In a dramatic turn of events, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was arrested on Saturday (January 25, 2025) by the police on charges of corruption. The ex-navy officer was taken into custody from the family’s hometown of Beliatta in connection with alleged misconduct surrounding a controversial property purchase during his father’s presidency, which spanned from 2005 to 2015.
The arrest marks a significant development in the government’s ongoing crackdown on alleged financial misdeeds tied to the Rajapaksa regime. Investigators are probing the acquisition of a holiday home in the southern religious hub of Kataragama, reportedly tied to suspicious transactions. Notably, Yoshitha’s uncle and former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was also questioned by authorities last week regarding the same property.
This comes just a day after Mahinda Rajapaksa filed a fundamental rights petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the government’s decision to drastically scale back his security detail. The former leader, who once dominated Sri Lanka’s political landscape, claimed the move compromised his safety.
The Rajapaksa family has been under intense scrutiny since the rise of the new government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who assumed office in November 2024. In its election campaign, the administration pledged to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in corruption and misconduct during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidency.
Mahinda’s eldest son, Namal Rajapaksa, a current legislator, has also found himself under the spotlight. Earlier this month, Namal faced police questioning over a separate property case, along with a former employee of his father.
The Dissanayake government’s hardline stance against corruption appears to be gaining momentum as the nation heads toward elections. With the once-powerful Rajapaksa family facing an onslaught of legal challenges, this latest arrest signals a shift in Sri Lanka’s political and judicial landscape, leaving the country closely watching the unfolding saga.
