Suspicions arise over former SriLankan CEO Kapila Chandrasena's whereabouts

Colombo (News 1st): The Police noted that the former CEO of SriLankan Airlines Kapila Chandrasena and his spouse Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake are currently not at their residence. This had been revealed when officials from the Criminal Investigation Department had gone to their house at Barnes Place Colombo 7 to arrest the duo. The arrest warrant was issued by Fort Magistrate Ranga Dassanayake on Monday, to arrest Kapila Chandrasena and his wife. Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage commenting on the situation today said, according to the information he has received, the duo had travelled overseas.

Journalist: Minister, where is Kapila Chandrasena now? Some say that he has travelled overseas. Is that true? State Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage: I do not know anything about it. The Police should arrest them. The Police should enforce the law. According to the information we have received, he is currently not in the country. Therefore, take the necessary steps to bring him back to the country and  enforce the law against him.

UNP MP Ajith Mannapperuma noted that they had gone with the warrant to arrest him after he had travelled out of the country. He said that no one can help it when he boards the plane and that is how the Rajapaksas protect their aides. He went onto note that the arrest warrant has been issued after he boarded the flight. He said they would like to tell the government to appoint a Presidential Commission to probe this controversial Airbus deal. Kapila Chandrasena and his wife have allegations levelled against them for allegedly obtaining a commission of US$ 2 million and laundering the money to a bank account maintained in Australia, through an agreement to purchase 10 Airbus aircraft for the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines. When the Criminal Investigation Department investigated the matter further, it had been revealed that the US$ 2 million had been transferred to a bank account maintained in Singapore.