The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) will submit statements recorded from former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne and Willy Gamage to court at the next hearing date, the Commission announced on Wednesday.
CIABOC also stated that the death of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Kapila Chandrasena does not obstruct the ongoing investigation into the alleged Airbus bribery transaction. Authorities separately confirmed that a warrant has been issued for Chandrasena’s wife, who is currently overseas.
Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at the Commission on Tuesday and recorded a four-hour statement — the first personal CIABOC appearance by a former President in the Airbus thread. Priyankara Jayaratne also recorded a four-hour statement the same day. Willy Gamage, who was recorded the day before, was a senior official linked to the SriLankan Airlines transaction.
The submission of those statements to court marks the first time recorded testimony from the former President will form part of the formal Airbus court record. The Commission has previously informed the court that a separate evidence dispute was being worked through.
The Airbus investigation centres on commission payments tied to SriLankan Airlines’ 2012-2013 acquisition of A330 and A350 aircraft, after the UK Serious Fraud Office’s 2020 disclosures of USD 16.84 million in bribery linked to the deal. The investigation has now produced multiple bail-thread escalations involving Chandrasena, a death inquest and several other arrests.
