The Colombo Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (14) ordered the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) to submit a progress report by October 13, 2026 on its investigation into the alleged bribery scandal linked to SriLankan Airlines’ Airbus aircraft deal.
The order was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama when the case was taken up. At the start of proceedings, CIABOC submitted a report outlining the progress of its investigations and requested a further date to continue reporting on the probe.
During the hearing, Attorney-at-Law Udara Muhandiramage, appearing for businessman Nimal Perera, sought permission to make submissions to the court. The Chief Magistrate said such submissions were unnecessary, as Perera has not been named a suspect in the case.
The first accused in the case, former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena, died recently under mysterious circumstances. The court had earlier issued warrants for the arrest of the second and third suspects — Chandrasena’s wife, Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, and former SriLankan Airlines board member Shamindra Rajapaksa, son of former minister Chamal Rajapaksa.
The long-running investigation centres on commissions allegedly paid in connection with SriLankan Airlines’ purchase of Airbus aircraft, and has previously drawn in statements recorded from former president Mahinda Rajapaksa. After considering the submissions, the Chief Magistrate fixed the next hearing for October 13 and directed CIABOC to present a comprehensive update on the progress of the investigation on that date.
