“It has only been one day since I came out, and again they are trying to put me inside”

By Bhagya Silva

Colombo, May 13 (Daily Mirror) - Former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena had repeatedly stated, “It has only been one day since I came out and again they are trying to put me inside,” shortly before his death, witness Aravinda de Silva told court yesterday during the magisterial inquiry into Chandrasena’s suspicious death.

During the recording of evidence at the magisterial inquiry into the death of Kapila Chandrasena, evidence was given by Priyangi Anushka Wijenayake, the sister of Kapila Chandrasena’s wife. Evidence was led yesterday by the Colombo Crimes Division.

The first witness, Priyangi Anushka Wijenayake, answered questions posed by the officer leading evidence as follows:

The witness told court that Chandrasena had recently been remanded in connection with a SriLankan Airlines matter and had been released on bail around May 5 or 6. According to her evidence, Chandrasena came directly to their house after obtaining bail and stayed there on two occasions.

She stated that on the second visit, Chandrasena had informed them that he was due to meet a lawyer regarding a court matter. Later that night, after meeting the lawyer together with the persons who stood bail, they returned home around 10.00 p.m. She further said arrangements were made for Chandrasena to stay in a separate room at the house.

Describing the events on the morning of the death, the witness stated that around 7.00 a.m. a lawyer named Priyantha informed them that Chandrasena was not answering calls. After repeated knocking on the door received no response, the room was opened using a master key.

The witness stated that when the room was opened, she did not see anyone on the bed and noticed a chair near the bathroom area. Thereafter, Durdans Hospital was contacted and two doctors together with an ambulance arrived at the house.

She further stated that she remained downstairs during the incident and later came to know there was a problem inside the room, adding that she believed either Chandrasena had died or had fallen ill.

The officer leading evidence asked the witness whether there was any reasonable reason regarding the death of the deceased and why he may have died.

Answering that, the witness stated:

“Maybe because he had to appear in court. He was under a lot of stress so maybe because of that. The doctor said while writing the report that he had died. They did not say how he had died. Aravinda had called the police and the police had come. At that time the police asked me to identify the body. The second time they asked me to come to the mortuary and identify it.”

Thereafter, evidence was recorded from the third witness, former cricketer Aravinda de Silva, in relation to the incident.

“Kapila Chandrasena is the husband of my wife’s younger sister. I went to see him in prison. He was in prison in connection with the bribery case. He had obtained bail on 5/5. The lawyer spoke regarding the cash bail. One person was there to give bail and two more were needed. Accordingly, the persons who gave bail in 2020 were prepared. A person called Fadi. The lawyer called and said they did not have Grama Sevaka certificates. I asked whether one week could be given. Accordingly, because of the bail conditions nothing could be done and the lawyer said to find two other persons,” Aravinda de Silva stated while giving evidence before court.

“Accordingly, arrangements were made to obtain bail from Shantha, who is my mother’s driver, and a person called Chamee. They were told to bring Grama Sevaka certificates. Shantha said he could get the certificate by 7.00 a.m. and Chamee said he could get it by 4.00 p.m. Then the lawyer said it was too late. After that I said those are the times they can get them,” Aravinda de Silva testified before court.

“Then the lawyer informed me that the person who is there now, a person working in my office called Ganesh Perumal, should be given Rs. 500,000 and from that the former sureties could sign and bind the money and once the other two persons come and provide the Grama Sevaka certificates, Kapila could be produced. Accordingly, I acted,”

“After that I told them to come to my house after obtaining the Grama Sevaka certificates. I told Ganesh to come early in the morning. They prepared one vehicle with my driver to bring Kapila. I told Ganesh to bring Kapila home because he had not had a proper meal for several days.”

“He came on May 7. I received a call in the morning. He thanked me very much for helping him when nobody was there. He spoke with me for about ten or fifteen minutes. After that he asked to send Ganesh to give that money. I said there was no urgency for that now. Afterwards, in the afternoon, Ganesh was sent there.

“While I was in the office for some time, I received calls from several persons saying there was a problem with Kapila. When I took the call I asked Kapila what the problem was. He said there was another court case. I do not understand cases. Then I said come home, let us speak with the lawyer and go,”

“I told Kapila to come. The lawyer said proper details should be known regarding this issue. I said the persons who stood bail and everyone would come and meet the lawyer regarding it. But the lawyer said not to bring Kapila there. My wife, the persons who stood bail and I all went to meet the lawyer. Until then Kapila remained at home.

"The lawyer telephoned and said Kapila must be produced before court early the next morning and gave me the number of a lawyer called Priyantha. He said that person would come home early in the morning.

When we were talking, Kapila repeatedly said, ‘It has only been one day since I came out and again they are trying to put me inside,’” court was informed that Kapila had told Aravinda de Silva.

At that time, Aravinda de Silva also stated while giving evidence before court that he told him, “Do not be upset. This is a small matter. Let us solve this.”

“After that both of us went upstairs. I showed him a room and prepared everything in that room. I told him to go and relax properly. Even at that time Kapila said, ‘It has only been one day since I came out."

“Afterwards, at around 7.15, when the alarm rang I woke up. I tried twice to open the door and took calls. I knocked on the bathroom door too. I thought maybe he was bathing. I again went downstairs. At that time the lawyer had arrived. I told the lawyer and my wife the details and that there was no response. After that the lawyer and my wife went upstairs to open it using the master key.

“At that time the lawyer told me he was unconscious. Then the lawyer said let us call Durdans. I only put my head into the room and looked. I only saw something hanging. I also called Dr. Arjuna. The lady doctor came and said he had passed away.”

After hearing two witnesses, the court fixed the 14th for recording evidence from the remaining five witnesses connected to the incident.