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Former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena has been ordered to remain in remand custody until May 5, 2026, in connection with an ongoing bribery investigation linked to an aircraft procurement deal.
The ruling was delivered by Colombo Magistrate’s Court, which also stated that a decision on Chandrasena’s bail application will be announced on the same date. Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama issued the order after reviewing submissions made by officials from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and defence counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne.
Chandrasena was arrested on March 12, 2026, by the anti-corruption commission over allegations that he accepted a bribe of USD 2 million in relation to an Airbus aircraft purchase for the national carrier. The case stems from a 2013 agreement under which SriLankan Airlines procured 10 aircraft in a deal valued at approximately US$2.3 billion.
Prosecutors allege that Chandrasena was involved in a broader conspiracy to receive kickbacks amounting to US$16 million, with €1.45 million reportedly transferred to a bank account in Singapore. Investigators further claim that a shell company was set up in Brunei under his wife’s name to facilitate the alleged payments.
The case remains under judicial consideration as authorities continue to pursue legal action over one of the most high-profile corruption investigations tied to the country’s aviation sector.
