Ex-SriLankan CEO faces arrest over disputed bail sureties

By Bhagya Silva  

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama today issued a warrant for the arrest of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena over allegations that the bail conditions imposed by court had been violated through the production of unsuitable sureties.  
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption requested the Colombo Chief Magistrate to revoke the bail granted to Chandrasena and remand him until the conclusion of the trial, alleging that the trust placed by court had been breached through the production of two unsuitable sureties before court.  
The request was made when a motion seeking the issuance of a warrant to arrest and produce Chandrasena before court was taken up.  Chandrasena had previously been granted bail after being remanded in connection with the 2013 procurement of a fleet of ten aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.  
Appearing before court today, the Bribery Commission informed the Magistrate that Chandrasena had violated the trust placed in him by court and requested that the bail granted under Sections 14(2) and 14(3) of the Bail Act No. 30 of 1997 be revoked. The Commission further requested court to remand the suspect until the conclusion of investigations conducted under the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023.  
Meanwhile, two suspects identified as Mohamed Rizwan and Mohamed Irshan, residents of Sanchi Arachchiwatte near the Hulftsdorp court complex, who were arrested and produced before court by the Keselwatta Police in connection with furnishing bail for Chandrasena, were yesterday ordered to be remanded till May 13 by Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva.  
Producing the suspects before court, the Officer-in-Charge of the Crimes Division of the Keselwatta Police stated that the two men had appeared as sureties for Chandrasena in exchange for payments of Rs. 15,000 each, despite having no personal connection or acquaintance with the suspect. Chandrasena had been released on three surety bails of Rs. 10 million each.  
Keselwatta Police further informed court that court officials had become suspicious as the sureties appeared incapable of producing the suspect before court when required under the provisions of the Bail Act and had no identifiable relationship with Chandrasena. Following a complaint made by court officials, investigations were launched based on a Grama Niladhari certificate submitted to court, leading to the arrest of the suspects.  
During questioning, the suspects had reportedly stated that they appeared as sureties at the request of two individuals identified as “Deva” and “Tissa” and that they had accepted Rs. 15,000 in return for doing so. Police also informed court that the suspects had no fixed employment or source of income.