Former CEO found dead following arrest warrant

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

Colombo, May 9 (Daily Mirror) - The investigation into the multi-billion dollar SriLankan Airlines Airbus deal has taken a chilling and dramatic turn following the death of its central figure, former CEO Kapila Chandrasena. The latter was found dead early Friday morning at his brother-in-law, the legendary Sri Lankan cricketer, Aravinda De Silva's Kollupitiya residence.

According to Police Media Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler, the former CEO was found hanging inside the house.

It was reported that Chandrasena’s residence is located at Barnes Place in Colombo and that he had arrived at Aravinda de Silva's residence on Pedris Place on Thursday.

It was reported that the two families are closely connected, as Chandrasena and de Silva are married to two sisters, Priyanka Neomali Wijenayake and Anushka de Silva. Preliminary investigations revealed that the death may have been a suicide, although a formal inquiry and post-mortem examination are underway to determine the exact cause.

The death occurred just one day after Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama issued a warrant for Chandrasena’s arrest. The warrant was issued following a request by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) to revoke his bail, alleging that he had breached the court's trust by submitting "unsuitable sureties."

It was reported that residents who were in the house at the time of the incident reportedly found Chandrasena hanging inside the house and had brought him down before informing the emergency ambulance service of Durdans Hospital. A medical team, including a doctor, arrived at the scene and confirmed that he was already dead at the time of examination. Accordingly, the Kollupitiya Police were informed of the incident.

Chandrasena had been a central figure in the probe regarding a US$2.3 billion aircraft procurement deal from 2013 where he and his wife were accused of accepting a US$2 million bribe through Shell company based in Brunei.

Subsequently, the CID launched an inquiry into the matter under the Money Laundering Act. In 2020, the suspects were arrested and produced before the Fort Magistrate and were released on bail. However, as the investigation uncovered offences coming under the Bribery Act and the Anti-Corruption Act, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption also initiated its own probe. Consequently, Kapila Chandrasena was re-arrested on March 12 this year in connection with that investigation.

Chandrasena was released on bail on May 5 following 54- days in remand custody. The release was granted under strict conditions, including a cash bail of Rs. 500,000 and personal bails of Rs. 10 million each from three close relatives. However, in the process of fulfilling these bail conditions, Chandrasena reportedly presented two individuals who impersonated as his relatives. These two individuals were subsequently arrested and are in remand custody.

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 centre of an international corruption investigation.

The scandal took a major political turn in March 2026 when CIABOC made significant submissions before Court alleging that large sums of money linked to the bribery investigation had been distributed to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in three separate installments, with an additional Rs. 20 million allegedly paid to former Minister Priyankara Jayaratne. Furthermore, financial trails reportedly linked the funds to accounts belonging to Shamindra Rajapaksa, a former board member of the airline were also detected.

Prior to his death, the case had already taken a controversial turn after Chandrasena, through his lawyers, submitted a sworn affidavit claiming that earlier statements he made to CIABOC had been obtained under pressure and intimidation by Commission officials, including the Director General.

Chandrasena alleged that he was denied legal counsel and pressured to name former President Rajapaksa and Opposition MP Namal Rajapaksa under fear of imminent arrest. While CIABOC had recently summoned Mahinda Rajapaksa and Priyankara Jayaratne to provide statements on May 12, the former President’s spokesperson said that no official notice had been received.

Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena conducted the magisterial inquiry into the death.

Meanwhile, SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding the death of Kapila Chandrasena, stating that the incident required a thorough and impartial investigation.

Speaking to the media, Kariyawasam questioned whether the death was in fact a suicide or whether other factors may have been involved. He also called for an immediate judicial inquiry into the circumstances under which Chandrasena had obtained bail and also called for an immediate judicial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the bail granted to Chandrasena. He alleged that the submission of fraudulent sureties for Chandrasena’s bail may have been part of a wider conspiracy aimed at keeping him entangled in legal proceedings or subjecting him to further pressure while in custody.

Kariyawasam said that Chandrasena's death cannot be dismissed lightly, especially given the pattern of "mysterious" deaths of individuals involved in high-stake legal matters.

Further investigations into the incident are being carried out under the direction of Senior DIG in charge of the Western Province, Sajeeva Medawatta, and DIG in charge of the Colombo District Nishantha Soyza.