The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) has told the Fort Magistrate’s Court that it has sought assistance from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to unlock the mobile phone of Kapila Chandrasena, the former SriLankan Airlines chief executive whose death in May was ruled an apparent suicide.
Investigating officers said the request was made by email and that further action on the phone would depend on the FBI’s response. The disclosure came as the magisterial inquiry into Chandrasena’s death continued for a fifth day before Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena, who noted that testimony from 18 individuals has already been recorded.
The Magistrate rejected a request by investigators to issue summons to President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne and his junior counsel, who had represented Chandrasena. Officers said the two lawyers had indicated they would appear if formally summoned, but the Magistrate ruled that since the earlier 18 witnesses had testified without formal summons, the same procedure should apply.
Bail surety Indika Rathnayake testified that Chandrasena had asked him to prepare to stand surety well before being remanded. “Around late February or early March, Mr. Kapila called me and said, ‘Indika, I need a big favour… Please be ready and arrange the necessary Grama Niladhari certificates,’” Rathnayake told court. He said he signed a personal bail of Rs. 10 million after Chandrasena was granted bail on May 5.
The testimony adds to a death inquest that has examined CCTV evidence and the recovery of his wallets, running alongside a separate probe into an alleged paid-surety racket in the Airbus bribery case.
