Kapila Chandrasena death inquiry hears testimony from his lawyers and police over bail, warrant reports, and the scene at Arvinda de Silva’s home.
The Kapila Chandrasena death inquiry took a significant turn as two lawyers connected to the former SriLankan Airlines CEO testified before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.
The Magistrate’s inquiry into the mysterious death of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena was reconvened today before Colombo Fort Magistrate Prasanna Amarasena.
During the proceedings, the President’s Counsel who had appeared for Chandrasena in another case, along with his junior lawyer, gave evidence before court.
Accordingly, President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne and his junior lawyer Udara Muhandiram appeared in court following summons previously issued by the court.
Lawyer Tejitha Koralage appeared on their behalf to protect their rights, while a team of lawyers, including President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne, appeared on behalf of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.
Thereafter, President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne gave evidence under the direction of officers from the Colombo Crime Division.
He stated that he had appeared for the late Kapila Chandrasena in a case filed against him by the Bribery Commission.
In that case, Chandrasena, who had been held in remand custody, was granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on May 5.
Arsekularatne said that after bail was granted, he went near the court dock and explained the bail conditions to Chandrasena.
Later, on May 6, Chandrasena informed him that he had been released on bail.
On May 7, the media reported that a warrant had been issued for Chandrasena’s arrest.
Arsekularatne said he remembered Chandrasena calling him after that report.
He said he advised Chandrasena that he must immediately appear in court.
Around 7:00 PM that evening, Mr. Arvinda de Silva called Arsekularatne to discuss the situation that had arisen.
Arsekularatne said he told him that the matter could not be discussed over the telephone and that he should come and meet him.
About an hour or an hour and a half later, Arvinda de Silva, his wife, and several persons who had stood surety for Kapila Chandrasena came to his office.
There, Arsekularatne said, he called Chandrasena using Arvinda de Silva’s wife’s phone and advised him once again that he must immediately appear in court.
The court then recorded the testimony of Udara Muhandiram, the junior lawyer of the President’s Counsel.
Giving evidence under the direction of the Colombo Crime Division, Muhandiram stated that after Chandrasena was granted bail, the late Kapila Chandrasena had informed him from the court prison cell to assist in submitting the surety documents to the court office.
He said that, on the advice of his senior lawyer, he assisted in submitting the surety documents to the office.
“Later, on May 7 afternoon, the media reported that a warrant had been issued to arrest Kapila Chandrasena. Around 2:00 to 2:30 PM that day, Kapila Chandrasena called me and requested an appointment to meet the President’s Counsel. Later that night, Mr. Arvinda de Silva, his wife, and several others came to our office,” he said.
Thereafter, Kollupitiya Police Officer-in-Charge D.M. Siloga also testified before court.
He stated that on the morning of May 8, Mr. Arvinda de Silva called police headquarters and informed them that a person had been found hanging dead at his residence.
Accordingly, Siloga said he dispatched a team of officers, including Deputy Police Inspector Damayantha, the OIC of the Crime Division, to the scene.
He later visited the location himself.
According to Siloga, Arvinda de Silva, his wife, and another lawyer were present at the residence when he arrived.
He then proceeded to the crime scene.
There, he observed a person lying with a belt tied around his neck, while part of the belt was attached to the door.
He said it was a light blue belt.
The person’s head was resting on a chair.
Siloga further stated that there was one door to enter the room.
Although the room had four windows, all of them were locked from the inside.
He said crime scene investigation officers, Government Analyst officers, and fingerprint experts were then summoned, and investigations commenced.
Later, on the advice of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, the investigation was handed over to the Colombo Crime Division.
The further hearing of evidence was postponed until the 9th of next month.
