Thursday Jul 16, 2026
Thursday Jul 16, 2026
Thursday, 16 July 2026 03:53 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena yesterday ordered the issuance of an open warrant against Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, the wife of late former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena, in connection with the ongoing investigation into the Airbus procurement case.
The order followed submissions by an officer of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), who informed court that a warrant had already been issued against the second suspect and requested that an open warrant be issued in English. The Magistrate granted the request.
During the hearing, President’s Counsel appearing for former Sri Lanka cricketer Aravinda de Silva and his wife Priyangi Anushka Wijenayake, who had stood as sureties for Priyanka Niyomali, sought their release from the surety obligations as they intended to travel overseas. Counsel also informed court that the bail money of Rs. 10 million could be forfeited.
However, after examining the case record, the Magistrate observed that the amount deposited as bail was Rs. 20 million, not Rs. 10 million, and noted that written reasons must first be submitted to court before any order could be made on the forfeiture of the bail money. The Magistrate accordingly released Aravinda de Silva and Priyangi Anushka Wijenayake from their obligations as sureties and directed that written submissions be filed setting out the grounds for confiscating the bail money.
The case was fixed for further hearing on 22 July.
It was also noted in court that the first suspect in the case, former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena, has since passed away.
