President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing on behalf of suspect Namal Rajapaksa, told the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that his client had been arrested and produced before court solely on the basis of a statement by businessman Nimal Perera.

The defense strongly questioned the credibility of Nimal Perera’s statement, pointing out that neither French officials nor officials of Airbus had stated that they had given money to Rajapaksa. Counsel further told court that another case involving Nimal Perera, relating to the ‘Krrish transaction’, is currently being heard before the High Court. According to counsel, the money in that case had also allegedly been received into an account belonging to Sabre Vision Holding Ltd.

However, counsel said that Perera had previously told investigators in that case that the account did not belong to him, but belonged to an Italian friend. “Accordingly, Nimal Perera is saying one thing then and another thing today. In 2019, the Criminal Investigation Department did not believe what Nimal Perera had said. If so, how can Nimal Perera be believed in 2026?” President’s Counsel Mendis questioned.Describing the situation as a case of applying a different standard when convenient, counsel urged court to consider the credibility issue as an exceptional circumstance and grant bail to Rajapaksa.