The further magisterial inquiry into the death of former SriLankan Airlines chief executive Kapila Chandrasena has been adjourned to June 9, Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena ordered on Friday after recording statements from the two lawyers who appeared for him in the Bribery Commission case and from the Officer-in-Charge of Kollupitiya Police.
President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne and junior counsel Attorney Udara Muhandiramge — formally summoned on June 2 as the 19th and 20th witnesses — gave evidence on Friday after a Bar Association of Sri Lanka challenge under Section 370(5) of the Code of Criminal Procedure was resolved last week.
Arsecularatne told the bench he had “no knowledge regarding the circumstances that led to Kapila Chandrasena’s death” and that his interactions with the former airline chief executive had been limited to providing legal advice and discussing matters tied to the earlier Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court case, NewsFirst reported. Junior counsel Muhandiramge said he had assisted in the same case under the President’s Counsel’s instructions. Muhandiramge also told the court that Chandrasena had been granted bail on May 5, but that two of the three sureties presented that day were rejected after issues were identified in their Grama Niladhari certificates; Chandrasena completed the bail requirements the following day and was released.
The Magistrate also recorded the statement of the Kollupitiya Police OIC. Further examination of evidence was then postponed to June 9.
The Colombo Crimes Division has previously told the bench that on the evening of May 7 — after Chandrasena’s bail was revoked and a fresh arrest warrant issued — a group reportedly visited the residence of former cricketer Aravinda de Silva before proceeding to PC Arsecularatne’s official residence for discussions, prompting the bench to seek the lawyers’ testimony.
Arrangements remain in train, through the Ministry of Justice, to send Chandrasena’s mobile phone to Apple Inc. in the United States via the FBI for forensic examination, following an earlier order issued on inquest day five.
Sources: Ada Derana · NewsFirst.
