SriLankan Airlines Airbus purchase inquiry

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Details

Concerns: Alleged bribes linked to the airline’s 2013 purchase of Airbus aircraft
Status: Under investigation by the bribery commission and the CID; on 14 October 2026 the CID told the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court its money laundering investigation was complete and indictments would be filed in a higher court; no verdict reported
Appears on: The Rajapaksa family
Last checked: 14 Oct 2026 (what this means)

Connections (4)

Kapila Chandrasena / Arrested in / SriLankan Airlines Airbus purchase inquiryAllegation
- AFP: he was the airline’s chief executive at the time of the 2013 purchase, and was arrested on charges of conspiring to accept bribes from Airbus.13 Mar 2026 · AFP (via The Peninsula) · Ex-CEO of SriLankan Airlines arrested over alleged Airbus bribe
Namal Rajapaksa / Arrested in / SriLankan Airlines Airbus purchase inquiryAllegation
- Summoned to give a statement about the Airbus transaction and taken into custody on 4 September 2026. The article names Chandrasena and his wife in the same allegations.4 Sep 2026 · Ada Derana · MP Namal Rajapaksa arrested by Bribery Commission
Shamindra Rajapaksa / Named as a suspect in / SriLankan Airlines Airbus purchase inquiryAllegation
- Reports that an international warrant has been issued for him and describes him as the third suspect in the case. The article carries no response from him.30 Sep 2026 · Newswire · Airbus Case: Court orders forfeiture of Rs. 40 Mn bail deposited by Aravinda de Silva and wife
- The CID told the court that Interpol Red Notices had been obtained for him, named as the third suspect in the money laundering case, and for the second suspect, Priyanka Niyomali, and that efforts to arrest them were continuing through international law enforcement channels. The article carries no response from him.14 Oct 2026 · News 1st · CID Completes Probe in Namal’s Money Laundering Case
- On 2 April 2026 the Colombo Chief Magistrate ordered open warrants for him and one other suspect after they failed to appear, at the request of the bribery commission. The article describes him as a former board member of SriLankan Airlines.2 Apr 2026 · Newswire · Court orders arrest of Shamindra Rajapaksa, Priyanka in Airbus bribery case
Aravinda de Silva / Stood surety for a suspect in / SriLankan Airlines Airbus purchase inquiry
- He and his wife stood surety for the wife of the late Kapila Chandrasena, who is his wife’s younger sister. A warrant issued on 16 September 2026 when they missed a hearing was recalled the same day, after their lawyers said they were at a funeral.17 Sep 2026 · Newswire · Court recalls warrant against Aravinda de Silva and wife
- On 30 September 2026 the Fort Magistrate ordered the Rs. 40 million bail forfeited, the suspect having gone overseas. Their lawyer said Rs. 20 million would be paid that day; the court allowed until 14 October for the rest.30 Sep 2026 · Newswire · Airbus Case: Court orders forfeiture of Rs. 40 Mn bail deposited by Aravinda de Silva and wife