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Kapila Chandrasena, the former CEO of SriLankan Airlines, was discovered deceased at his home on Friday under circumstances that have raised suspicions, according to police reports. This incident occurred shortly after he was granted bail in a corruption case concerning aircraft acquisitions for the airline.

Authorities found Chandrasena's body at his residence, with Assistant Superintendent of Police F U Wootler confirming the situation. Local news outlets have reported that he may have died by hanging. Notably, this event transpired just a day after a Colombo court allegedly issued a warrant for his arrest due to claims of breaching bail conditions.

Chandrasena had been in custody since March, facing allegations of receiving kickbacks related to aircraft deals involving Airbus. He was released on bail earlier this week. During recent court hearings, prosecutors informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that Chandrasena confessed to bribing former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa with LKR 60 million. The prosecution stated that Rajapaksa received LKR 20 million on three different occasions at his residence in southern Sri Lanka during his presidency in 2015.

However, Chandrasena's legal team contended that this confession was coerced, presenting an affidavit in court asserting that it was made under duress. The investigation has also implicated former aviation minister Priyankara Jayarathna, who is alleged to have received part of the bribe linked to the acquisition of six Airbus aircraft in 2014 and an additional seven in 2017. Authorities have claimed that Chandrasena, who led the airline from 2011 to 2015, received kickbacks from Airbus, with funds reportedly deposited into his wife's bank account.

Both Chandrasena and his spouse were arrested in 2019 but were later released on bail. The anti-corruption commission in Sri Lanka has revived the investigation following the introduction of new anti-corruption legislation in 2024. The current administration, under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, had pledged to address high-profile corruption cases ahead of the 2024 elections.