Ex–SriLankan Airlines CEO Found Dead Hours After Court Issues Fresh Arrest Warrant

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Airlines, Kapila Chandrasena, who was accused of accepting a US$2 million bribe in connection with the purchase of Airbus aircraft for the national carrier, has died.

Sri Lanka Police said Chandrasena’s body was discovered at his residence on Fifth Lane, Kollupitiya, early this (8) morning.

Chandrasena had been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption over allegations that he accepted the bribe during the SriLankan Airlines Airbus procurement transaction. He was subsequently remanded and later released on bail.

However, the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday (7) issued fresh arrest warrants against Chandrasena after it emerged that two individuals presented as sureties for his bail had been hired. The court took this action after considering submissions made by the Bribery Commission, which alleged a breach of bail conditions and a violation of the court’s trust.

The Bribery Commission’s motion carefully examined the circumstances surrounding the securing of bail, leading the court to conclude that Chandrasena should be re-arrested.

Earlier, Chandrasena had also given a statement detailing how the alleged bribe money he received had been distributed.

In connection with the same incident, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne, and Willie Gamage have been summoned to appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption on the 12th of this month for further inquiries.