Former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena was found dead at his home on Friday under suspicious circumstances, police said. The development came just days after Chandrasena secured bail in a corruption case related to the purchase of aircraft for the national carrier.
According to police, Chandrasena’s body was discovered at his residence. Assistant Superintendent of Police F U Wootler confirmed the incident, while local media reports said he died by hanging. The death also came a day after a Colombo court reportedly issued a warrant against him over allegations that he had violated bail conditions.
Chandrasena had been remanded in custody in March in a case linked to alleged kickbacks in aircraft deals involving Airbus purchases for the airline. He was granted bail on Tuesday.
During court proceedings earlier this week, prosecutors told the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that Chandrasena admitted to giving LKR 60 million in bribes to former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa. According to the prosecution, Chandrasena claimed Rajapaksa received LKR 20 million on three separate occasions at his residence in southern Sri Lanka during his presidency in 2015.
However, Chandrasena’s lawyers argued that the statement had been obtained under pressure and submitted an affidavit in court claiming it was recorded under duress. The investigation also allegedly linked former aviation minister Priyankara Jayarathna to the case. Prosecutors claimed he too received part of the alleged bribe connected to the purchase of six Airbus aircraft in 2014 and seven more in 2017.
Officials alleged that Chandrasena, who headed the airline between 2011 and 2015, received kickbacks from Airbus, with money reportedly transferred into his wife’s bank account.
Both Chandrasena and his wife were arrested in 2019 and later released on bail. Sri Lanka’s anti-graft commission revived the investigation after new anti-corruption laws were introduced in 2024.
The current government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had promised before the 2024 elections that it would take action against high-level corruption cases.
Aditi Pandey is a passionate journalist with over three years of experience in the digital newsroom. She has covered politics, crime and world news, w...View More
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