Former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena has been found dead in Colombo amid the ongoing Airbus bribery investigation that has drawn international attention over the past several years. Sri Lankan police are currently treating the case as a suspected suicide, while further investigations are underway to determine the exact circumstances surrounding his death.
Authorities stated that Chandrasena’s body was discovered on May 8 at a residence in Colombo’s Kollupitiya area. Initial reports suggested death by hanging, although forensic examinations and official inquiries are still in progress. The incident occurred only days after he was granted bail in connection with the high-profile Airbus corruption case.
Chandrasena served as CEO of SriLankan Airlines between 2011 and 2015 and was accused of involvement in a controversial US$2.3 billion aircraft procurement deal with Airbus. Investigators alleged that millions of dollars in kickbacks were transferred through offshore accounts linked to his family as part of wider corruption allegations tied to aircraft purchases during the Rajapaksa administration era.
The case gained global prominence after Airbus admitted in a 2020 international settlement with authorities in the UK, US, and France that bribery payments had been made in multiple countries, including Sri Lanka. Chandrasena’s death has now raised fresh concerns regarding accountability and the future direction of the ongoing investigations.
