COLOMBO (News 1st): A team of investigators from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has departed for Australia as part of ongoing investigations into an alleged bribery scheme linked to the acquisition of aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.
The overseas inquiry is being conducted in connection with allegations that a payment of US$2 million was received from European aircraft manufacturer Airbus in relation to the procurement of a fleet of ten aircraft for the national carrier.
The Bribery Commission is currently investigating transactions connected to agreements entered into by SriLankan Airlines to purchase six Airbus aircraft in 2014 and a further seven Airbus aircraft in 2017.
Investigations have revealed that, under the terms of those agreements, arrangements had allegedly been made with senior officials of SriLankan Airlines at the time to provide payments of US$1 million for each Airbus A330 aircraft and US$1.5 million for each Airbus A350 aircraft.
Investigators have also uncovered information suggesting that agreements had been reached to pay US$400,000 per aircraft in instances where aircraft were obtained through leasing arrangements.
According to findings disclosed during the investigation, a total of US$2 million from the agreed payments had allegedly been transferred to a foreign bank account belonging to the wife of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena.
On March 19, Bribery Commission investigators informed court that Kapila Chandrasena had allegedly stated that Rs. 60 million from those funds had been handed over to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on three separate occasions in 2015.
Investigators further told court that Chandrasena had also claimed that US$325,000 had been transferred through banking channels to Shamindra Rajapaksa, a former member of the SriLankan Airlines Board of Directors and the son of former Minister Chamal Rajapaksa.
Meanwhile, courts have issued warrants against Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, the wife of the late Kapila Chandrasena and a suspect in the case, as well as Shamindra Rajapaksa in connection with the ongoing investigation.
