Police Seek Forensic Reports on DVRs and Medicines in Ex-Airline CEO's Death Probe

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Colombo Crimes Division informed the Fort Magistrate’s Court that CCTV footage had not been recorded at the residence of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena, who died under suspicious circumstances.

The revelation was made when the magisterial inquiry into the death was taken up once again before Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara.

The Colombo Crimes Division sought court permission to take into custody the DVR systems related to CCTV cameras installed at both the residence of Aravinda de Silva, where Chandrasena died, and Chandrasena’s own residence, in order to submit them to the Government Analyst and obtain reports.

Police also stated that unidentified medicines found at the location of the death would be forwarded to the Government Analyst for examination.

During today’s proceedings, nurse Kosala Ratnajeeva testified and provided details regarding the medicines discovered at the scene.

Extract:

“The patient was found collapsed near a chair by the room door, in a kneeling position. His face appeared pressed firmly against the chair. There was something like a strap tied around his neck. The doctor who accompanied us confirmed that the patient had died. There were some medicines at the location. These were identified as drugs used to control blood sugar levels. I then informed the hospital administration, and they advised me to notify the police.”

Meanwhile, Rajendra Kumar Siva Kumar, an employee at Aravinda de Silva’s residence, also gave evidence, stating that he had seen Chandrasena in the kitchen around 1.30 a.m. on May 8.

Extract:

“Dinner had been prepared, but Mr. Kapila did not eat that night. Around 12.05 a.m., I served him tea. At that time, Mr. Kapila and Mr. Aravinda were talking. Afterwards, he went to bed and I also went to sleep. At around 1.30 a.m., I woke up to go to the washroom and saw that many lights in the kitchen were on. I saw Mr. Kapila standing near the fridge holding a white plastic water bottle. I asked him what he needed, and he said he had come to get some water. I told him there was water in his room. He said ‘okay’ and left.”

Additionally, Tissanka Kamalasiri, who installed the CCTV system at Aravinda de Silva’s residence, testified that he had informed the homeowner that the DVR system only stored footage for about one month.

Extract:

“I installed the CCTV system in July 2021 along with the DVR. I told Mr. Aravinda that the DVR would only record data for about one month.”

When questioned by the Magistrate about whether the CCTV system had been connected for remote viewing via a mobile phone, the witness stated that no such connection had been made.

Further magisterial inquiry into the death has been postponed until May 22.