Kapila death probe hears surety claim that Aravinda called him before court bail, as Magistrate orders faster CCD investigation.
Kapila death probe took a new turn after a surety told court that Aravinda had called him before he stood surety for the late former SriLankan Airlines CEO.
Colombo Fort Magistrate Prasan Amarasekara today directed the Colombo Crime Division to expedite the investigation into the mysterious death of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena.
The Magistrate issued the direction in open court when the magisterial inquest into Chandrasena’s death was taken up for the fourth day today, May 22.
The investigation is being conducted by the Colombo Crime Division.
Two Wallets Found Near The Room
When the inquest was called, the Colombo Crime Division submitted a report to court stating that two wallets belonging to the deceased had been found at the residence where Kapila Chandrasena had been staying.
Police informed court that a maid employed at the house had discovered the two wallets while cleaning the premises.
According to Police, there was a hall-like area close to Kapila Chandrasena’s room, and the two wallets had been found fallen at that location.
Police further stated that three bank cards belonging to NDB, DFCC, and American Bank were found inside those wallets.
They requested the court to issue an order to deactivate the bank cards.
Magistrate Questions Delay In Phone Access
The Magistrate then questioned Police on what steps had been taken to unlock the deceased’s mobile phone.
Responding to the question, Police said the mobile phone had been referred to the Criminal Investigation Department to obtain instructions on how it could be unlocked.
The Magistrate then observed that unlocking the phone was necessary for further investigation.
“Unlocking this mobile phone is necessary to conduct further investigations. Why are the investigations being delayed? Try to conduct these investigations expeditiously,” the Magistrate stated.
The Magistrate also questioned Police over details contained in the previous progress report.
He noted that the earlier report stated that CCTV footage around the house where the deceased died had been examined.
That examination had reportedly found that no external persons had entered the relevant house.
However, the Magistrate pointed out that a maid who gave a statement earlier had said there was a person inside the house.
Responding to this, officers of the Colombo Crime Division said there were two entrances to the house.
They said CCTV footage around those entrances had been examined and that it was revealed no external persons had entered the premises through those gates.
Police said this was the matter recorded in the previous progress report.
The Magistrate then raised another question, asking whether there were three entrances to the house from the main road.
He ordered the Colombo Crime Division to investigate the matter using Google Maps and report back to court.
After examining the relevant maps, Police informed court that there was one entrance from the main road to access the house.
Sureties Give Evidence In Court
Thereafter, the recording of evidence commenced.
A person named Rohan Chamil Amaradasa gave evidence under the direction of officers of the Colombo Crime Division.
“On the 6th, I stood surety for the late Kapila Chandrasena at the Aluthkade Court. I have known Mr. Aravinda for a long time. Mr. Aravinda called me on May 5th. He said, ‘Chamil, I need a big favour. There’s a surety to sign. Can you bring a Grama Niladhari certificate as well?’ Later, I brought a Grama Niladhari certificate and called Mr. Aravinda. Then he told me to come to his house the next morning. The next day, I went to his house. Later, I went to the Aluthkade Court in his vehicle and stood surety,” he said.
The witness also described how he met the late Kapila Chandrasena at Aravinda de Silva’s house.
“On the 7th, Mr. Aravinda called me. He called and said we need to meet a lawyer, to come. Later in the evening, I went to Mr. Aravinda’s house. Then we went to meet the lawyer. We returned to Mr. Aravinda’s house at night. They told us to leave after eating. At that moment, I saw Kapila Chandrasena coming down from the upper floor. He came and sat at the dining table. Mr. Aravinda introduced us and said, ‘These are the people who stood surety for you.’ At that moment, Kapila Chandrasena thanked me, saying ‘Thanks, Chamil,’” the witness told court.
Thereafter, another person named Perumal Ganesh, who works at Aravinda de Silva’s office, also gave evidence.
He stated that after a notification from Aravinda de Silva, he had gone to the Colombo Magistrate’s Court and deposited a cash surety of Rs. 500,000 for Kapila Chandrasena.
“After posting the surety, I took Kapila Chandrasena to Mr. Aravinda’s house. Then I went to the office. Later, on the 7th afternoon, Mr. Aravinda told me to go to the house in Barnes Place where Kapila Chandrasena was residing, as he would return the Rs. 500,000 surety amount. He told me to take it and come. Then around 2.15 pm, I went to Kapila Chandrasena’s house. I told the staff there that I needed to meet Mr. Kapila. Then I went upstairs and met him. Later, Kapila Chandrasena said he would give me the Rs. 500,000 from a nearby bank. Just then, a call came. After that, Mr. Kapila said they were going to arrest him again. Then I said, ‘Sir, I am getting late. I have other work, I will leave.’ I also told him to bring it to the office and left the place,” Ganesh said.
Evidence was also recorded from two other witnesses.
After recording the evidence, the court ordered that further evidence hearings be called on the 26th of this month.
