Rajapaksa's Party Chief Arrested In Sri Lanka Over Alleged Death Threat Case

Sri Lankan police arrested Sagara Kariyawasam, general secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP), on Monday over an alleged death threat against Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya, officials said. Kariyawasam, a senior figure in the political party associated with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, was arrested after being questioned about remarks he made at a press conference in Colombo last week. At the press conference, Kariyawasam warned Weerasooriya that he could be killed if the police chief continued to act in what he described as a partisan manner. A police official said Weerasooriya viewed the remarks as a death threat and had taken the statement seriously.

Kariyawasam was arrested after recording a statement with investigators and was being taken before a magistrate, according to the official. The arrest marks another development involving senior figures associated with the Rajapaksa political network, which dominated Sri Lankan politics for years. Kariyawasam has been a prominent member of the SLPP, the party founded during the Rajapaksa family's period of political influence. The party has faced a significant decline in political power since the economic and political crisis that contributed to a major shift in the country's leadership. The detention comes amid a broader series of investigations and arrests involving individuals linked to the former ruling establishment.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, who served as Sri Lanka's president from 2005 to 2015 and later returned as prime minister, has himself faced allegations connected to corruption. He has denied wrongdoing, while investigations into various alleged financial irregularities involving members and associates of his family have continued. The former president has been accused of receiving kickbacks from Airbus in connection with an aircraft purchase deal that was ultimately scrapped. Allegations have also been made against members of the Rajapaksa family involving money laundering and the alleged misappropriation of state funds. The claims form part of a wider scrutiny of the family's political and financial affairs, although allegations and charges remain subject to legal proceedings.

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Several relatives of the former president, including his children, wife, brothers and other members of the extended family, have faced allegations or charges related to financial wrongdoing, according to authorities and previous reports. The Rajapaksa family has remained one of the most influential political dynasties in Sri Lanka, despite its political fortunes changing significantly in recent years. The current government, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, came to power in September 2024 after campaigning on promises to tackle corruption and strengthen accountability.

Dissanayake's leftist administration has made combating bribery, misuse of public resources and corruption a central part of its political agenda. Kariyawasam's arrest therefore comes at a politically sensitive time, with the government's anti-corruption campaign bringing increased scrutiny to figures associated with previous administrations. His case, however, concerns the separate allegation that he threatened the country's police chief, rather than the corruption allegations involving members of the Rajapaksa family. Following his arrest, Kariyawasam is expected to appear before a magistrate, where the next steps in the case will be determined.

Authorities will examine the circumstances surrounding his remarks and the complaint against him. The case is likely to attract further political attention because of Kariyawasam's position within the SLPP and his close association with the political network of the former president. The arrest adds to the pressure facing the Rajapaksa-linked political establishment as Sri Lanka's current government continues its stated campaign against corruption and misconduct. While the allegation against Kariyawasam will now proceed through the legal system, his detention represents another confrontation between senior figures from the former ruling camp and institutions under the current administration.

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