Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who arrived at the Bribery Commission to give a statement, left the premises at around 11.50 a.m. today (12). Sri Lanka Latest News
He appeared before the Bribery Commission at around 9.30 a.m. this morning after receiving a notice to provide a statement regarding the alleged US$2 million bribe paid to SriLankan Airlines in 2013.
Mahinda Rajapaksa provided statements before the Bribery Commission for over two hours. During this time, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and several party members arrived at the location and expressed their support for Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The then Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Airlines, Kapila Chandrasena, and his wife, Neomali Wijenayake, have been accused of receiving a US$2 million bribe in 2013 in connection with the purchase of six Airbus A330 aircraft and eight A350 aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.
However, following findings that the matter involved offences under the Bribery Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption initiated further investigations. Kapila Chandrasena was re-arrested in connection with the case on March 12.
Subsequently, officials of the Bribery Commission informed court that Kapila Chandrasena had given a statement to the Commission claiming that out of the US$2 million received in the transaction, Rs. 20 million was given to the then Minister of Civil Aviation, Piyankara Jayaratne, and Rs. 60 million was given to then President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
However, Kapila Chandrasena’s lawyers later submitted an affidavit to court stating that the statement had been obtained under threat and coercion by Bribery Commission officials.
In this context, Kapila Chandrasena was found dead at a house last Friday.
The Commission had earlier informed former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Minister Piyankara Jayaratne to appear before it today to record statements regarding the ongoing investigation into these allegations.
Accordingly, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at the Bribery Commission at around 9.30 a.m. this morning to provide his statement.
