What charges does former SriLankan Airlines CEO face?

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Former SriLankan Airlines CEO Faces Bribery Conspiracy Charges

The former CEO of SriLankan Airlines, Kapila Chandrasena, has been arrested and faces charges related to conspiring to accept bribes from Airbus. These charges stem from a 2013 deal involving the purchase of 10 aircraft valued at US$2.3 billion.
Allegations of Bribery Conspiracy

Officials stated that Chandrasena allegedly conspired to accept a bribe amounting to US$16 million. A portion of this sum, €1.45 million, was reportedly received into a Singapore bank account. This alleged kickback was facilitated through a shell company established in Brunei, which was registered under his wife's name.
Airbus Deal and Investigation Context

The investigation is linked to a significant 2013 transaction where SriLankan Airlines agreed to acquire 10 Airbus aircraft. This case is part of a broader international inquiry into Airbus's business dealings. In January 2020, Airbus agreed to pay a €3.6 billion fine to France, Britain, and the United States to resolve bribery probes. British investigators specifically accused Airbus of failing to prevent bribery by individuals associated with the company to influence directors or employees of SriLankan Airlines for business gains.
Previous Arrest and Related Cases

This is not the first time Chandrasena has faced legal scrutiny in connection with such matters. He was previously arrested and subsequently released on bail in February 2020 for a similar, though separate, case. In that instance, the United States, Britain, and France had named him in their joint investigation into Airbus transactions. Separately, the former chairman of SriLankan Airlines, Nishantha Wickramasinghe, was arrested in June 2025 in an unrelated corruption case concerning allegations of financing a former president's failed re-election bid.

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What charges does former SriLankan Airlines CEO face?

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