Kapila Chandrasena, the former Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Airlines, was found dead today at a residence in Kollupitiya (Colpetty), Colombo. Police suspect suicide as the cause of death.
According to Police Media Spokesman ASP F. U. Wootler, Chandrasena’s body was discovered under suspicious circumstances, prompting the Colpetty Police to launch further investigations. No foul play has been confirmed at this stage.
Background on Legal Troubles
Chandrasena, who served as CEO of SriLankan Airlines from 2011 until his resignation in early 2015, had been at the center of a long-running high-profile corruption investigation linked to the airline’s Airbus aircraft procurement deal. The controversial transaction, dating back to around 2013, involved the purchase of approximately 10 Airbus aircraft valued at about US$2.3 billion.
Prosecutors allege that Chandrasena conspired to accept bribes totaling up to US$16 million (with specific references to a US$2 million payment routed through a shell company, Biz Solutions Inc., set up in Brunei in his wife’s name, with funds transferred to a Singapore account). He was first arrested in February 2020 alongside his wife, Priyanka Wijenaike, following revelations from a UK court case against Airbus.
More recently, on March 12, 2026, he was arrested again by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). During the proceedings, Chandrasena reportedly claimed that part of the bribe money (Rs. 60 million) was paid to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, though these allegations remain part of the ongoing case.
Yesterday, the court ordered his arrest
He was held in remand for several weeks and was granted bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama on May 5, 2026. However, the Bribery Commission moved to cancel his bail, citing issues such as unsuitable sureties. Yesterday (May 7), the court ordered his arrest and production before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.
Police sources indicated that officers attempting to arrest him at his Barnes Place residence did not find him there, leading to the discovery of his body shortly afterward at the Kollupitiya location.
This incident marks a tragic end for a figure who also previously led Mihin Lanka and Mobitel. The Airbus bribery scandal has lingered for over a decade, involving complex international investigations, shell companies, and political sensitivities in Sri Lanka.
Investigations into Chandrasena’s death are ongoing, and authorities have not ruled out any possibilities pending post-mortem and forensic reports. The case continues to draw significant public and media attention due to its links to major corruption allegations involving the national carrier.
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