Police yesterday informed the Fort Magistrate’s Court that former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Kapila Chandrasena, had been found dead under suspicious circumstances.
Chandrasena’s body was discovered yesterday morning at a residence on Pedris Road, Kollupitiya. Police said the body was found hanging inside a room of the house, while the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer also visited the scene.
Reporting facts before court, Kollupitiya Police stated that investigations are being conducted, treating the incident as a suspicious death. Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena also visited the location to conduct an on-site inquiry.
Investigations are being carried out under the direction of Colombo District DIG Nishantha Zoysa and Western Province Senior DIG Sajeewa Medawatta.
Chandrasena and his wife, Niyomali Wijenayake, had previously been accused of accepting a USD 2 million bribe linked to the procurement of Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines in 2013. Following investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department under the Money Laundering Act, the couple was arrested in 2020 and later released on bail.
Subsequently, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) launched a separate probe into alleged offences under the Bribery Act and Anti-Corruption Act, resulting in Chandrasena’s re-arrest on March 12.
During court proceedings, Bribery Commission officials alleged that Chandrasena had stated Rs. 20 million, from the transaction, had been paid to former Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne, and Rs. 60 million to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. However, President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne, appearing for Chandrasena, rejected the claim, alleging the statement had been obtained under duress.
The Bribery Commission had also summoned Rajapaksa and Jayaratne to appear before the Commission on May 12 to record statements.
Meanwhile, the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court had granted Chandrasena bail on May 5 after 54 days in remand custody, subject to a cash bail of Rs. 500,000 and three sureties of Rs. 10 million each.
However, two individuals who allegedly falsely presented themselves as relatives during the bail process were later arrested and remanded. Following the incident, court yesterday issued a warrant for Chandrasena’s re-arrest for allegedly violating bail conditions and breaching the trust of the court.
By Norman Palihawadane
