The Bribery Commission informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (19) that investigations have revealed that money allegedly received as a bribe in the Airbus deal had been handed over by suspect Kapila Chandrasena to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and then Aviation Minister Piyankara Jayaratne.
The Commission further stated that part of the funds had also been directed to the account of Shamindra Rajapaksa, a former board member of SriLankan Airlines.
According to the Bribery Commission, the suspect has claimed that he gave Rs. 60 million to Mahinda Rajapaksa in three separate payments of Rs. 20 million each. These payments were allegedly made in 2015 at Rajapaksa’s Beliatta residence and Carlton residence, following a request made by the former President.
Meanwhile, the Colombo Magistrate’s Court ordered the further remand of Kapila Chandrasena until April 2.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama issued the order after considering submissions made by Bribery Commission officials and the defence counsel.
Chandrasena was arrested by the Bribery Commission in connection with allegations that he accepted a bribe of US$ 2 million during the procurement of Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines in 2013.
