Former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena, arrested by the Bribery Commission in connection with an investigation into the Airbus deal, has submitted an affidavit regarding the statements he gave.
He states that due to fear instilled by pressure exerted on him by the Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, he gave the relevant statement to the officer recording it, in the manner desired by that officer, including the names of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa, and his wife, because he was afraid that the Director General would exert unbearable pressure on him, making his life feel worthless and driving him to hang himself.
The full statement is below;
Quote;
“AFFIDAVIT
I, Kapila Chandrasena, residing at No. 71/4, Barnes Place, Colombo 07, being a Buddhist, do hereby solemnly, sincerely, and truly affirm and state as follows:
I am the affirmant mentioned above.
I state that, pursuant to a notice issued for giving a statement on 2026.03.12, I went to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption with my lawyer.
I state that while my statement was being recorded, the officer who was recording my statement went out of the room where the recording was taking place, and upon returning, called me saying ‘Come here for a bit, Sir,’ and took me out of the 3rd floor where the investigation unit was located, down to the 1st floor of the building via the elevator, and that two officers accompanied me. I state that during this time, inside the elevator, one officer who accompanied me said, ‘Reciting verses won’t work. Tell us what we want, otherwise we will have to arrest you.’ Thereupon, I said to him, ‘I am telling what happened. I am not reciting verses.’
I state that thereafter, I was taken into a rest room located on the 1st floor of that building and made to sit down. At the time of entering the room, another officer was near the door of that room. The two officers who accompanied me also made me sit and then remained outside the room near the door. I state that shortly after, the Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, Mr. Ranga Dissanayake, who was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt, black trousers, and a black tie, came into the room where I was. When he entered, I stood up. As soon as he entered the room, he asked me, ‘You know me, don’t you?’ I then said, ‘Yes, Sir.’ He sat on a chair near me and informed me to sit down.
I state that I know him because the order granting me bail, as a suspect in the case bearing number B 14363/19 filed by the Criminal Investigation Department in the Fort Magistrate’s Court regarding the factual circumstances of this case, was made at the time the current Director General, Mr. Ranga Dissanayake, was serving as the Honourable Magistrate of the Fort Magistrate’s Court. Accordingly, I know him, and after his appointment as the Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, I have also seen him on television.
I state that thereafter, the said Mr. Ranga Dissanayake addressed me in a threatening tone, saying, ‘This is your last chance. About two or three weeks ago, someone like you came. You probably know who it was. If you don’t know, I’ll tell you. It was someone connected to the Keheliya case. I gave him two chances, he didn’t take them. The day before he was to be indicted, that person hung himself and died. I know the people in your lot. Tell me the name of the big one and the small one. Also, about your wife.’ At that time, I was looking at his face. Then he said, ‘What, didn’t you understand? I’m talking about Mahinda and Namal. I came here from the Judiciary to clean everything up. I will do that. Take this chance, otherwise, I will work things so that you too will have to do what that person did – put a noose around your neck,’ and threatening thus, he left the room.
I state that thereafter, while the two officers who came with me were taking me back to the 3rd floor, when I informed those officers of the need to consult my lawyer regarding giving the statement, they said, ‘You are still in the process of giving your statement, so you cannot be allowed to meet the lawyer until it is finished.’
I state that due to the aforementioned threats, and having heard the speeches made on television by the Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, the image I had in my mind of him being a righteous person was destroyed. I state that due to the pressure and threats made by the Director General, I became fearful and terrified. I state that out of fear that the Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption would exert unbearable pressure on me, making my life also feel worthless and driving me to the point of hanging myself, I gave the statement to the officer recording it, including the names of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa, and my wife, in the manner desired by that officer.
I state that if my statement contains anywhere any allegation that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa or Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa exerted any influence, provided any undue contribution, or received any money in connection with the SriLankan Airlines Airbus replacement process, or that my wife had any involvement, those facts were not made by me voluntarily. I state that those facts were obtained by the officer who recorded my statement, exploiting the fear of death instilled in me by the intimidation and threats of the Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.”
End of quote.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Boddaragama today (19) ordered that Kapila Chandrasena, arrested by the Bribery Commission in connection with an investigation into the Airbus deal, be remanded again until the 2nd.
This order was made following the submission of a further B report to court regarding the incident and after considering the facts presented by the officers appearing in court on behalf of the Bribery Commission.
The suspect was produced before the Magistrate’s Court today by prison officials.
The investigation officers informed the court that the former CEO was arrested in connection with an allegation of conspiring with others, including his wife, with the intention of accepting bribes during the procurement process, by setting up a fake company in Brunei in his wife’s name and opening accounts in a Singaporean bank under that company’s name, while serving as the CEO of SriLankan Airlines and the Chairman of the Procurement Committee for purchasing Airbus aircraft.
The Magistrate also ordered that the case be called on March 24 for giving evidence regarding the request made by investigation officers to issue warrants for Priyanka Neomali Wijeratne and Shaminda Rajapaksa, who have been named by the Bribery Commission in connection with the incident.
The Bribery Commission informed the court that the statements given by the suspect mention that a sum of eighty million rupees, acquired by this suspect, was given to two public administration officials.
The Bribery Commission informed the court that the statement mentioned that from the money obtained by this suspect, an amount of sixty million rupees was given to former Executive President Mahinda Rajapaksa on three occasions, and an amount of 20 million rupees was given to former Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne.
Accordingly, the Magistrate also directed the court to investigate the individuals mentioned in the statement related to that incident.
