March 19, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption authorities told the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today that a former head of the national carrier has claimed a substantial portion of funds linked to a contentious aircraft procurement deal was passed on to senior political figures.
According to submissions made by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena stated in a recorded statement that Rs. 60 million, said to have been received as an illicit payment in connection with the 2016 Airbus transaction, was handed over to then President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The Commission further informed court that the sum was allegedly delivered in three separate instalments. In addition, Chandrasena is said to have claimed that a further Rs. 20 million was given to former Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne.
Investigators also outlined a complex financial trail, alleging that a company had been set up overseas under Chandrasena’s wife’s name, with a bank account opened in Singapore to facilitate transactions. Through this mechanism, authorities believe more than €1.45 million was received from a European aerospace firm as part of the deal.
Officials stated that the money was subsequently channelled into an account held in Australia, with portions reportedly distributed among a director of the national airline and several influential government figures, suggesting a wider network of alleged beneficiaries.
Chandrasena, who was taken into custody over the matter, was produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama, who ordered that he remain on remand until April 02 as investigations continue.