Colombo (News 1st): State Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage today (05th) said he was informed, Kapila Chandrasena the once famed CEO of SriLankan Airlines cannot be found in Sri Lanka and had possibly gone overseas.
A source familiar with the matter believes the Former CEO may have flown to Seattle, USA.
On Independence Day, 04th February 2020, personnel attached to the Criminal Investigations Department had visited a house in Colombo 07 - Barne's Place to be exact - in search of Former CEO of UL Kapila Chandrasena and his wife Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayaka, in order to arrest them.
This following arrest warrants issued by Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake on Monday for the arrest of Ex-CEO of Sri Lankan Airlines Kapila Chandrasena and his wife.
State Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage today said he was informed, Kapila Chandrasena and his cannot be found in Sri Lanka and had possibly gone overseas.
The Government Minister said it is the job of the police to enforce the law and make arrests.
UNP MP Ajith Mannapperuma commenting on the matter said the law enforcement agencies obtained the warrants only after the Former CEO of UL had left the country.
He said this is how the Rajapaksa Family associates are protected.
Attorney General Dappula De Livera directed the CID Chief to Arrest & Produce Ex-CEO of SriLankan Airlines Kapila Chandrasena and his wife Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayaka as suspects on charges of Money Laundering in the SriLankan Airlines - Airbus re-fleet deal.
The Attorney General said investigations proved on the 27th of December 2013, a sum of 02 Million USD was deposited to an account maintained in Singapore Standard Chartered Bank used by a company named Biz Solutions and operated by Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayaka.
Accordingly, Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayaka is the only director and shareholder of the company knowns as Biz Solutions.
The deposit was made by the parent company of Airbus SAS, EADS HQ / SSC France.
Investigations also proved an offense of money laundering was committed by transferring the money to an account operated by her husband at the Commonwealth Bank in Australia.
The money was transferred in the following manner :
- 08th May 2014 - 100,000 EUROS
- 07th July 2014 - 100,000 EUROS
- 07th August 2014 - 200,000 Australian Dollar
- 17th September 2014 - 200,000 EUROS
Notably, on the 16th of May 2013 SriLankan Airlines had inked two separate MoUs for the purchase of 04 A330-900 planes and 06 A330-300 planes.
Thereby, Attorney General De Livera noted there is reasonable suspicion to name both Kapila Chandrasena and Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayaka as suspects for committing offenses under the prevention of money laundering act.
He instructed the CID Chief to obtain a warrant for the arrest of the duo, record statements from them and thereafter produce them to a magistrate's Court.