Former CEO of Sri Lankan Airlines found dead at home

Former CEO of Sri Lankan Airlines Kapila Chandrasena was found dead at his home in suspicious circumstances on Friday, days after he secured bail in a corruption case, police said.

Chandrasena was granted bail on Tuesday after he was remanded in March in the case where he was charged for taking a kickback on the purchase of aircraft for the national carrier.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) FU Wootler said that his body was discovered at his home. According to the police spokesman, he died of hanging, Daily Mirror newspaper reported.

The development comes a day after Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S Bodaragama issued a warrant for Chandrasena’s arrest over allegations that the bail conditions imposed by the court had been violated. Prosecutors told the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that SriLankan Airlines’ former CEO Kapila, the chief accused in the case, admitted to giving LKR 60 million in bribes to former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.