Sri Lanka, Sept. 14 -- The Attorney General has instructed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to name Namal Rajapaksa MP as a suspect in the purchase of Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines based on information revealed during investigations into financial irregularities and bribery.

The notification directs Lakshman Namal Rajapaksa to be named as a suspect pursuant to Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 05 of 2006.

It is alleged that the parent company of Airbus paid bribes to local officials and intermediaries to secure the contract to purchase 10 Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines between 2013 and 2014. The promised bribe amount was reportedly USD 16.84 million. From this sum, USD 2 million was alle...