A Sri Lankan court has issued an arrest warrant against the country's former Youth Minister, Namal Rajapaksa, the son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Namal, meanwhile, arrived in Maldives today after failing to comply with court summons.

According to Sri Lankan media reports, Namal arrived in Male' today on the same flight as Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake who is here on a State Visit. The two flew in the business class of this morning's Sri Lankan Airlines flight UL 101.

President Dissanayake is in the Maldives on an official State Visit on invitation from President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. Naman, meanwhile, is in the country to attend a wedding reception, media reports indicate.

The arrest warrant against Namal - who has close ties to many political actors in the Maldives - was issued due to his failure to attend court hearings concerning several charges raised against him.

Namal has previously been arrested as well on charges including money laundering and corruption. Sri Lanka has pressed various charges against Namal and several other members of the politically powerful family.

Namal, a lawyer by profession, has previously served in Sri Lanka's parliament as well. He also ran as an opponent in the presidential election which saw Dissanayake elected as leader.