The Colombo Magistrate’s Court on Monday ordered the release on bail of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena, who had been in remand custody since March 12 over allegations of accepting a US$ 2 million bribe linked to the national carrier’s purchase of Airbus aircraft.
Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama directed that Chandrasena be released on cash bail of Rs. 500,000 with three sureties of Rs. 10 million each, Newswire reported. The Magistrate also imposed a travel ban on the former executive.
The bail application was submitted at the previous hearing on April 28 by President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne, appearing for Chandrasena. Officials representing the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) opposed the application. The court considered submissions from both sides before granting bail on Monday morning.
Chandrasena had been further remanded until May 5 at the April 28 hearing, having earlier had his bail application rejected on April 17. He was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department on March 12 and has remained in custody for nearly two months.
The Airbus bribery case centres on alleged kickbacks during SriLankan Airlines’ purchase of Airbus jets. Arrest warrants remain outstanding for former chairman Shamindra Rajapaksa and former board member Priyanka Wijenayaka, both of whom are abroad. CIABOC also issued an arrest warrant earlier this year for Chandrasena’s wife, who is among the named beneficiaries of the alleged bribe payments.
The case is one of several high-profile accountability proceedings the new government has pursued through CIABOC and the courts.
