COLOMBO: An official says Sri Lanka's police have arrested a son of the country's former strongman leader over an alleged financial offense.

Navy Spokesman Akram Alavi says Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who is a navy officer and son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was arrested Saturday and was to appear in a court.

He declined to specify the offense but said the navy allowed the financial crimes investigators to question Rajapaksa at the navy headquarters before his arrest.

Yoshitha is the second member of the once-powerful Rajapaksa family to be arrested for alleged offenses committed during the Rajapaksa presidency since the former leader's unexpected election defeat last year.

A former minister and brother of the former president was arrested earlier and charged with misusing state funds.