Sri Lanka’s Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) informed court on Thursday (20) that former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena has stated that a sum of Rs. 60 million was paid to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on three separate occasions in connection with the controversial Airbus aircraft transaction.

The disclosure was made when the case related to the Airbus deal was taken up before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

According to the Bribery Commission, the claim was revealed through a statement made by Chandrasena, who is a suspect in the case.

During Thursday’s proceedings, the Magistrate ordered that Kapila Chandrasena be further remanded until April 2.

Here’s a background to this story:

On the 12th of March, former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena was arrested upon arriving at the Bribery Commission this morning to provide a statement.

Why was Kapila Chandrasena arrested?

Investigations are underway regarding a corrupt transaction involving the planned purchase of 10 Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines during the 2012-2013 period.

The investigation into this transaction is being conducted in coordination with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

During the 2012-2013 period, a proposal was submitted for the removal of 13 aircraft from SriLankan Airlines and replace them with 14 brand-new aircraft.

A contract was signed with the French Airbus company, to purchase 6 A330 aircraft and 4 A350 aircraft among those.

Who uncovered the fraud in this transaction?

Information regarding a serious fraud in this deal was revealed in January 2020.

This came to light following the disclosure of details from an investigation conducted by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) of the United Kingdom.

Investigations revealed that the French Airbus company had promised to pay a bribe of US$ 16.84 million for the deal to purchase the 10 Airbus aircraft.

Was it revealed that bribes were paid?

Yes.

The investigation conducted by the British Serious Fraud Office (SFO) revealed that $2 million of this money had been credited to an account in Brunei belonging to a company owned by the wife of the then CEO of SriLankan Airlines, Kapila Chandrasena.

According to investigative information, the funds received by the Brunei-based company in his wife’s name were transferred by Kapila Chandrasena on several occasions through a Singaporean account to his own account in Australia.

Further investigations have revealed that money from Singapore had also been transferred to two accounts within Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, Shamindra Rajapaksa, the son of former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, has been named as the third suspect in this case.

This follows the disclosure that a sum of 160,000 US dollars was credited to a bank account belonging to him in 2013.

Source:Newsfirst.lk

The government has decided to extend tourist visas by one month for visitors who have already obtained visas to travel to Sri Lanka but have been unable to arrive within the expected time frame, Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe announced.

The Minister said that a number of tourists have already secured visas and are awaiting the opportunity to arrive in Sri Lanka on their scheduled flights. However, due to prevailing circumstances, several days have elapsed since their visas were issued, creating difficulties for these travellers.

“As a government, we have taken a decision to extend their visa validity by one month,” the Minister said. “From the date their visa is due to expire, it will be extended by a further one month. This facility has been provided to enable them to come to Sri Lanka without difficulty.”

Meanwhile, the Tourism Minister also revealed that a request has been made to the Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy to grant increased fuel quotas for those engaged in the tourism sector.

He said the request seeks to provide double the standard petrol or diesel quota to tourism-related businesses and individuals who are able to present valid registration certificates issued by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority or other acceptable forms of identification.

The measures are aimed at supporting the tourism industry during the current period by easing travel-related concerns for visitors and addressing fuel requirements for tourism operators to ensure the continued functioning of the sector.

Visas of workers who have left Israel for vacation or other purposes have been extended until April 30, 2026, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Israel, Nimal Bandara stated.

According to the decision, re-entry visas that expired or are due to expire between February 28 and April 21, 2026, will be automatically extended until April 30, and no separate application is required for this extension, the Ambassador noted.

The updated visa validity will be reflected in the system of Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority, and re-entry through border crossings will be permitted during the period.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Nimal Bandara also mentioned that a warning has been issued about the continued risk of attacks on Israel by Hezbollah and Iran.

In particular, Israel’s security authorities have informed the public that simultaneous attacks could target economic and military sites in the northern regions of the country.

Accordingly, residents in those areas have been urged to follow safety instructions and to take immediate action to move to the nearest safe locations when sirens are heard, Ambassador Bandara said.

Israeli authorities have stated that in situations where there are no designated shelters, it is essential to take cover in a place with strong structures and to stay away from glass doors and windows.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has invited the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) for an urgent meeting next week, extending the invitation to TPA Leader Mano Ganesan, MP, during a phone conversation.

According to Barath Arullsamy, Vice President of the Democratic People’s Front (DPF–TPA), the return of queues highlights a growing gap between government assurances and ground realities. “The President told Parliament there is sufficient fuel stock and no need to panic. But today, people are standing in queues again, the QR system is back, and gas shortages are looming,” he said, adding that the issue lies in implementation rather than intent.

He warned that Sri Lanka’s heavy reliance on Middle Eastern energy supplies has left it vulnerable to external shocks, particularly the ongoing Iran–Israel conflict. Nearly 20% of global oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, while about 38% of Sri Lanka’s petroleum imports are linked to the UAE, he noted.

“The impact is already being felt across multiple sectors,” Arullsamy said, citing research indicating that around 70% of cooking gas and over 20% of fertilizer imports are tied to the Middle East, along with a significant share of remittances and exports. “This is not a distant war. It is now a Sri Lankan economic problem,” he stressed.

He added that daily wage earners, three-wheeler drivers and small businesses are among the hardest hit, as rising fuel costs drive up transport charges and market prices.

On disaster recovery, Arullsamy criticised delays in fulfilling promises made following the December Ditwah disaster. He said that despite assurances of Rs. 5 million per affected family and proper resettlement, many families in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Badulla remain in temporary shelters.

Citing available figures, he noted that over 45,000 families are staying with relatives or friends, while more than 1,100 families remain in government-run temporary shelters, with rental assistance yet to be fully delivered.

Turning to the energy sector, Arullsamy also raised concerns over an ongoing coal procurement controversy, warning of a possible electricity tariff increase of around 13%. “The global crisis is one thing, but local mismanagement is making it worse. The government cannot hide behind the Middle East war for everything,” he said.

Describing the current policy approach as inconsistent, he said, “Sri Lankans can handle hard truths. What they cannot handle is being told everything is under control in the morning and standing in queues by evening.”

Despite his criticism, Arullsamy said the President continues to enjoy goodwill among minority communities but cautioned that delays in delivering on promises risk undermining public confidence.