Sri Lanka Police today reported to the Fort Magistrate’s Court that former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena has died under suspicious circumstances.

His body was discovered this morning at a residence on Pedris Road, Colpetty. Police said he was found in a bedroom, while the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer and Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara visited the scene to conduct inquiries.

Police informed the court that the incident is being treated as a suspicious death, with investigations underway under the supervision of Western Province Senior DIG Sajeeva Medawatta and Colombo DIG Nishantha Soysa.

Chandrasena had faced longstanding corruption allegations. In 2013, he and his wife were accused of accepting a US$2 million bribe linked to the purchase of six Airbus A‑330 and eight A‑350 aircraft for SriLankan Airlines. The Criminal Investigation Department later investigated the matter under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, arresting the couple in 2020 before releasing them on bail.

The Bribery Commission also launched a probe, leading to Chandrasena’s re‑arrest on March 12 this year. During proceedings, officials told court he had admitted to distributing Rs. 20 million to then Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne and Rs. 60 million to then President Mahinda Rajapaksa from the alleged bribe. His counsel, however, claimed the statement was obtained under duress. Both Rajapaksa and Jayaratne were summoned to appear on May 12 to record statements.

Chandrasena was released on bail on May 5 after 54 days in remand, on conditions including a Rs. 500,000 cash bail and three sureties of Rs. 1 million each. Police later found that two individuals had been fraudulently presented as relatives to meet bail conditions, leading to their arrest.

On May 7, the Colombo Chief Magistrate issued a fresh warrant for Chandrasena’s re‑arrest, citing violation of bail conditions and breach of court trust. (Newswire)

The post Court informed former SriLankan Airlines CEO found dead under suspicious circumstances appeared first on Newswire.