US authorities had prevented Namal Rajapaksa from boarding a flight from Moscow to Houston, Texas as his name was included on a travel watch list, the New Indian Express reported.
According to sources, US authorities do not comment on individual cases but official sources said his name was likely on a travel watch list as a result of money laundering charges he faces at home.
Namal Rajapaksa, son of former strongman president Mahinda Rajapaksa, said the airline had been instructed not to allow him to board the flight to Houston.
Tweeting immediately about his predicament, Namal Rajapaksa said that “I won't make my Houston Flight as #US Officials instruct them to not let me board. Sure it has nothing to do with my name, being part of #lka opposition or my travel from #Russia.”
Namal Rajapaksa and a sibling have been charged with money-laundering. Other family members face corruption allegations.
Sri Lanka has announced it will set up special courts to investigate billions of dollars of corruption under former president Rajapaksa who was defeated in 2015 elections.
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