Colombo Magistrate’s Court has issued open arrest warrants for Shamindra Rajapaksa — son of former Minister Chamal Rajapaksa and a former SriLankan Airlines board member — and Priyanka Neomali Wijenayaka, wife of former airline chairman Kapila Chandrasena, after both failed to appear in court on April 2.
Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama directed all Sri Lankan airports and the Controller of Immigration and Emigration to arrest the suspects upon arrival and notify the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
The warrants stem from an expanding investigation into alleged bribery in SriLankan Airlines’ 2013 procurement of 10 Airbus aircraft worth USD 2.3 billion. Former airline CEO Kapila Chandrasena was arrested on March 12 for allegedly accepting a USD 2 million bribe connected to the deal.
In court on March 19, CIABOC stated that Chandrasena claimed Rs. 60 million was paid to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in three instalments of Rs. 20 million each, delivered at the Beliatta and Carlton residences. A further Rs. 20 million was allegedly paid to former Minister Priyankara Jayaratne. Chandrasena subsequently released an affidavit claiming his statement was made under duress and intimidation.
Chandrasena’s bail was denied on April 2. He remains remanded until the next court date on April 17.
The case adds to a growing list of accountability proceedings involving the Rajapaksa family. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa separately faces a CIABOC notice requiring an assets declaration by April 10.
