Wednesday May 13, 2026
Wednesday May 13, 2026
Wednesday, 13 May 2026 11:47 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and recorded a statement for nearly two hours in connection with the ongoing investigation into the 2013 Airbus aircraft procurement deal involving SriLankan Airlines.
Speaking briefly to reporters before entering the Bribery Commission, Rajapaksa said he expected a fair outcome from the investigation.
“If a fair decision is given, I should be cleared from everything,” he said.
The investigation relates to the procurement of 14 Airbus aircraft for the national carrier during the previous Rajapaksa administration, a transaction that investigators allege caused substantial losses to the State.
The appearance came amid heightened scrutiny surrounding the probe following the death of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena, who was found dead at a residence in Colpetty on Thursday.
Police initially suspected suicide but later informed court that the death was being treated as suspicious, with further investigations underway.
The Airbus controversy drew international attention after Airbus admitted before a UK court in 2020 to paying bribes in several countries, including Sri Lanka, to secure aircraft contracts.
Sri Lankan investigators alleged Chandrasena solicited and accepted a $ 2 million bribe connected to the procurement process. Investigators claimed the funds had been transferred through a Singapore bank account maintained under Biz Solutions, a company where Priyanka Neomali Wijenayaka was listed as sole director and shareholder.
The investigation intensified in recent months after CIABOC informed court that Chandrasena had allegedly claimed portions of the funds were distributed to senior political figures, including alleged payments of Rs. 60 million to Rajapaksa and Rs. 20 million to former Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne.
However, Chandrasena later retracted the allegations through an affidavit released by his lawyers, claiming the statement had been obtained under intimidation and pressure while he was denied access to legal counsel. CIABOC has not publicly responded in detail to those claims.
The investigation later widened to include open warrants against former SriLankan Airlines board member Shamindra Rajapaksa and Priyanka Neomali Wijenayaka after they failed to appear before court. Immigration authorities were directed to arrest them upon entry into the country.
Further controversy emerged days before Chandrasena’s death after two individuals were arrested for allegedly appearing as fake bail sureties in exchange for Rs. 15,000 each.
–Pix by Shehan Gunasekara
