Kapila Chandrasena’s sudden death raises serious suspicions. Rajapaksa faction alleges conspiracy, demands investigation into fake sureties and Airbus bribe case.
There is strong suspicion surrounding the sudden death of former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena, stated lawyer Sagara Kariyawasam, Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, representing the side accused in the Airbus deal. Speaking to media after a press briefing at the party office following the discovery of Chandrasena’s body at a house in Kollupitiya today (08), the Secretary emphasized this point while responding to questions from journalists. Chandrasena, who had been in remand custody over allegations of accepting a $2 million bribe in an Airbus aircraft purchase deal, was ordered released on bail by court on May 06.
However, considering a request from the Bribery Commission, the court yesterday (07) issued a fresh order for his re-arrest. This arrest warrant was issued based on submissions that the sureties presented on behalf of Chandrasena were fictitious individuals. It is reported that this created a risk of him being held in remand custody for several years until the conclusion of the trial. Sagara Kariyawasam pointed out that there is a serious suspicion regarding the individuals who came forward to provide bail for Chandrasena. Given the practical difficulty for a person in remand custody to find sureties, he stated that an immediate investigation should be conducted into who introduced the two alleged fake sureties to him.
Suggesting that this could be the result of some conspiracy, the Secretary also stated that an investigation should be conducted using CCTV footage within the court premises. Kariyawasam further requested a broad investigation at the judicial level to determine whether prison officials or officers of the Bribery Commission were involved in the process of providing these sureties. He particularly emphasized that a strong suspicion has arisen in society as to how the Bribery Commission suddenly came to know that the relevant sureties were fictitious individuals.
Meanwhile, a lawyer representing the deceased Chandrasena told the media that all arrangements had been made to produce his client before court via a motion before 10:00 am today (08) in compliance with the re-arrest warrant issued by court. He stated that while he was in the process of filing that motion and preparing to come to court, he received news of this sudden death. He further confirmed that another lawyer from his legal team who remained at the scene would provide relevant statements regarding the preparations made to surrender to court.
Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala stated that no definitive conclusion can be reached yet regarding the sudden demise of former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena, and emphasized that a definite statement can only be made after receiving the report of the post mortem examination currently being conducted. The Minister further noted that police have already launched extensive investigations into this incident from all angles, and that the cause of death will be clarified in the future based on the scientific conclusions of the judicial medical officers.
Responding to questions about why he was not arrested promptly after the court issued a warrant, the Minister said that police only became aware of this yesterday evening, so they would have planned to arrest him this morning. He pointed out that police would not have anticipated such a situation arising at night regarding a person who had previously been in police custody and released on court orders, and reiterated that no definitive opinion can be expressed until the post mortem examination is completed, though further details could be sought from the Inspector General of Police.
Meanwhile, Samagi Jana Balawegaya Member of Parliament Sujith Sanjaya Perera stated at a media briefing today that the deceased Kapila Chandrasena was the most crucial and key witness in the trial related to the controversial Airbus deal. The MP pointed out that the former CEO has died under mysterious circumstances, and it is a serious problem that no specific information has yet been revealed regarding the manner of his death. MP Sujith Sanjaya Perera further stated that a strong suspicion and discussion has already arisen in society as to whether this death was a suicide or whether it occurred at the prompting of some party. He emphasized that a full investigation is necessary regarding the suspicious death of such an important witness in a major fraud and corruption trial.
Former Members of Parliament Udaya Gammanpila and Wimal Weerawansa have levelled serious allegations against the government and investigative agencies regarding the controversial death of Kapila Chandrasena. They suspect that this may not be merely a suicide, but could be either a pushing towards death by subjecting individuals to severe mental pressure for political purposes, or a homicide. Commenting on this death, Udaya Gammanpila stated that media reports had been published a few weeks before his death regarding an affidavit given by Kapila Chandrasena.
That affidavit allegedly claimed that pressure had been brought upon him stating that if he did not give evidence against Mahinda Rajapaksa and Namal Rajapaksa through the Bribery Commission, he would have to die by hanging himself. In a context where Bribery Commission officials cannot foresee the future, Gammanpila emphasized that an independent investigation should be conducted into whether there is any invisible hand or backing behind his pre-stated declaration that he would die by hanging. He further stated that the wife of the official who died in connection with the Central Bank incident has now filed a complaint with police, and that he will be visiting Kuliyapitiya Police to discuss that matter.
Meanwhile, Wimal Weerawansa pointed out that if the law functioned properly, no one would have a need to commit suicide in this manner. He noted that although this second death, following the death of an Additional Director of the Ministry of Finance, also appears at first glance to be a suicide, there are serious doubts surrounding it. While the government’s responsibility is to ensure the security of citizens, he alleged that the current government has pushed individuals into an insecure mental state for its own political purposes. Weerawansa further stated that if former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay is granted bail, a problematic situation could arise regarding his security as well.
Leveling strong criticism against the government’s economic management, Wimal Weerawansa said that the government has set aside controlling the economy and is spending its time reading lists of imprisoning people. He pointed out that the rupee is continuously depreciating, and that the Central Bank Governor and the Minister of Finance are following a policy of silence in the face of the country’s economic crisis. At a time when the rupee has already crossed the 324 mark against the dollar, he alleged that the government is waiting until it collapses to Rs. 400, and emphasized that an economy that has collapsed under such governance cannot be rebuilt.
