Sat Jan 25 12:42:12 IST 2025: ## Rajapaksa Son Arrested in Sri Lanka Corruption Probe

**Colombo, Sri Lanka –** Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was arrested Saturday on corruption charges related to a property purchase. The arrest stems from an ongoing investigation into alleged misconduct during his father’s presidency (2005-2015), specifically focusing on the acquisition of a holiday home in Kataragama. Police apprehended Yoshitha, the second of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s three sons, in his home district of Beliatta.

The arrest follows last week’s questioning of Yoshitha’s uncle, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, concerning the same property. This is the latest development in a series of investigations targeting the Rajapaksa family since the election of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake last November. The new government had pledged to hold accountable those accused of wrongdoing during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure. Previously, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s eldest son and legislator, Namal Rajapaksa, and a Rajapaksa family employee were also questioned over separate property deals.

Adding to the political tension, Mahinda Rajapaksa filed a Supreme Court petition on Friday challenging the government’s recent reduction of his security detail. The ongoing investigations and legal challenges highlight the ongoing fallout from the Rajapaksa era and the new government’s commitment to addressing alleged corruption.

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