Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SriLankan Airlines, Kapila Chandrasena, was found dead at a residence in Colpetty today (08).
According to Police Media Spokesman, ASP F. U. Wootler, Kapila Chandrasena is suspected to have died by suicide.
He further said that the Colpetty Police is conducting further investigations into the incident.
Kapila Chandrasena, who was recently in remand custody over the Airbus deal under SriLankan Airlines, was released on bail recently.
However, he was ordered to be arrested and produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday after the Bribery Commission sought the cancellation of his bail.
According to court proceedings, the Bribery Commission filed a motion before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court requesting that the bail previously granted to Chandrasena be revoked.
Who was Kapila Chandrasena? US-sanctioned ex-SriLankan Airlines CEO found dead amid Airbus probe
- From engineer to airline chief
Kapila Chandrasena was a well-known figure in Sri Lanka’s aviation and corporate sectors.
An engineer by profession, he previously served in senior positions at SriLankan Airlines before becoming Chief Executive Officer of the national carrier. He also served as CEO of Mihin Lanka, the now-defunct budget airline launched during the Rajapaksa administration.
However, it was the Airbus aircraft procurement deal during his tenure at SriLankan Airlines that ultimately placed him at the center of an international corruption investigation.
- What is the Airbus controversy?
The Airbus scandal is linked to aircraft purchases made by SriLankan Airlines during the previous Rajapaksa administration.
The deal became globally controversial after aircraft manufacturer Airbus admitted in a UK court in 2020 that it had paid massive bribes in several countries, including Sri Lanka, to secure aircraft contracts.
According to international investigations, a Sri Lankan intermediary company allegedly received millions of dollars in secret payments connected to aircraft purchases made by SriLankan Airlines.
Sri Lankan investigators later alleged that Chandrasena solicited and accepted a USD 2 million bribe in connection with the Airbus deal.
Investigative material submitted by the CID to the Attorney General’s Department had further revealed that a Standard Chartered Bank account maintained in Singapore under Biz Solutions — a company where Priyanka Neomali Wijenayaka was listed as the sole director and shareholder — had allegedly received a payment of USD 2 million from the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) N.V., the parent company of Airbus SAS, in December 2013.
According to investigators, the funds — estimated at around Rs. 363 million — are alleged to have been linked to the controversial aircraft procurement deal involving SriLankan Airlines.
Chandrasena was first arrested in 2020 and later released on bail.
Earlier this year, CIABOC arrested Chandrasena again over allegations that he solicited and accepted the bribe in exchange for ensuring Sri Lanka purchased Airbus aircraft at inflated prices.
- U.S. sanctions and corruption designation
The case drew international attention in 2023 when the United States imposed sanctions and visa restrictions on Chandrasena.
The U.S. State Department publicly designated him under Section 7031(c) for “significant corruption,” alleging that he accepted bribes while serving as CEO of SriLankan Airlines in exchange for facilitating overpriced Airbus purchases.
The sanctions also extended to his immediate family members, barring them from entering the United States.
- Allegations involving political figures
The Airbus investigation intensified in March after CIABOC informed court that Chandrasena had allegedly stated that part of the funds received through the Airbus deal had been distributed to senior political figures.
According to court submissions, Chandrasena allegedly claimed that:
Rs. 60 million was paid to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on three separate occasions.
Rs. 20 million was allegedly paid to former Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne.
Following those revelations, both Rajapaksa and Jayaratne were summoned to appear before CIABOC on May 12 to record statements.
However, Chandrasena later retracted the allegations through an affidavit released by his lawyers.
In the affidavit, he claimed his statement to CIABOC had been obtained under intimidation and pressure. He alleged investigators threatened him with arrest and pressured him to mention the names of Mahinda Rajapaksa, MP Namal Rajapaksa, and his wife.
He further claimed he was denied access to his lawyer while the statement was being recorded.
CIABOC has not publicly responded in detail to those allegations.
- Arrest warrants and expanding probe
The investigation widened further when the Colombo Magistrate’s Court issued open warrants against:
Shamindra Rajapaksa, son of former minister Chamal Rajapaksa and a former SriLankan Airlines board member.
Priyanka Neomali Wijenayaka, who authorities say is absconding.
The warrants were issued after both failed to appear before court in relation to proceedings connected to the Airbus probe.
The court also directed Sri Lankan airports and immigration authorities to arrest them if they entered the country.
- Bail controversy days before death
Just days before Chandrasena’s death, another controversy emerged after he was granted bail by court.
Two individuals were arrested after allegedly appearing in court as fake bail sureties for Chandrasena in exchange for Rs. 15,000 each.
Police told court the suspects did not personally know Chandrasena and had allegedly used questionable documentation, including Grama Niladhari certificates, during the bail process.
The suspects were remanded pending further investigations.
Meanwhile, CIABOC had moved to cancel Chandrasena’s bail, leading the Colombo Magistrate’s Court to order that he be arrested and produced before court again.
It was against this backdrop that Chandrasena was found dead on Friday, with police suspecting suicide. (Newswire)
