SriLankan Airlines Airbus purchase inquiry

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Concerns: Alleged bribes linked to the airline’s 2013 purchase of Airbus aircraft
Status: Under investigation by the bribery commission and the CID; on 14 October 2026 the CID told the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court its money laundering investigation was complete and indictments would be filed in a higher court; on 27 October 2026 a Deputy Solicitor General told the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that an indictment of 24 charges and 59 witnesses against Namal Rajapaksa and three others had been filed before the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar, and on 28 October 2026 the Trial-at-Bar fixed 19 November; no verdict reported
Appears on: The Rajapaksa family
Last checked: 28 Oct 2026 (what this means)

Connections (4)

Kapila Chandrasena / Arrested in / SriLankan Airlines Airbus purchase inquiryAllegation
- AFP: he was the airline’s chief executive at the time of the 2013 purchase, and was arrested on charges of conspiring to accept bribes from Airbus.13 Mar 2026 · AFP (via The Peninsula) · Ex-CEO of SriLankan Airlines arrested over alleged Airbus bribe
Namal Rajapaksa / Arrested in / SriLankan Airlines Airbus purchase inquiryAllegation
- Summoned to give a statement about the Airbus transaction and taken into custody on 4 September 2026. The article names Chandrasena and his wife in the same allegations.4 Sep 2026 · Ada Derana · MP Namal Rajapaksa arrested by Bribery Commission
- On 27 October 2026 Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara told Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama that indictments had been filed against him and three others before the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar, with the approval of the Chief Justice, over allegations of money laundering and accepting a Rs. 100 million bribe in connection with the Airbus transaction. The indictment has 24 charges and 59 witnesses. The article carries no response from him.27 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Airbus deal: Indictments filed against Namal Rajapaksa and three others
- Says the Attorney General filed the 24-charge indictment over alleged bribery in the Airbus transaction. The Chief Magistrate ordered him kept in custody until he was produced before the Trial-at-Bar, saying the Magistrate’s Court could no longer make any order about the suspect, including on bail or remand, and that no exceptional circumstances had been presented to justify bail.28 Oct 2026 · Daily FT · AG indicts Namal Rajapaksa on 24 charges over Airbus deal
- On 28 October 2026 he was produced before the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar, and the Chief Magistrate had directed that a report on the matter be submitted to the Magistrate’s Court on 30 October.28 Oct 2026 · Ada Derana · Namal Rajapaksa produced before Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar
- The three-judge Trial-at-Bar bench headed by Judge Priyantha Liyanage ordered prison authorities to produce him on 19 November. Bribery Commission lawyers were absent because they had not been notified of the hearing. His counsel, led by President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwhetty, said the defence intended to file a bail application once the commission’s officers appeared.28 Oct 2026 · Ada Derana · Airbus Case: Namal Rajapaksa ordered to appear before court on Nov. 19
Shamindra Rajapaksa / Named as a suspect in / SriLankan Airlines Airbus purchase inquiryAllegation
- Reports that an international warrant has been issued for him and describes him as the third suspect in the case. The article carries no response from him.30 Sep 2026 · Newswire · Airbus Case: Court orders forfeiture of Rs. 40 Mn bail deposited by Aravinda de Silva and wife
- The CID told the court that Interpol Red Notices had been obtained for him, named as the third suspect in the money laundering case, and for the second suspect, Priyanka Niyomali, and that efforts to arrest them were continuing through international law enforcement channels. The article carries no response from him.14 Oct 2026 · News 1st · CID Completes Probe in Namal’s Money Laundering Case
- On 2 April 2026 the Colombo Chief Magistrate ordered open warrants for him and one other suspect after they failed to appear, at the request of the bribery commission. The article describes him as a former board member of SriLankan Airlines.2 Apr 2026 · Newswire · Court orders arrest of Shamindra Rajapaksa, Priyanka in Airbus bribery case
Aravinda de Silva / Stood surety for a suspect in / SriLankan Airlines Airbus purchase inquiry
- He and his wife stood surety for the wife of the late Kapila Chandrasena, who is his wife’s younger sister. A warrant issued on 16 September 2026 when they missed a hearing was recalled the same day, after their lawyers said they were at a funeral.17 Sep 2026 · Newswire · Court recalls warrant against Aravinda de Silva and wife
- On 30 September 2026 the Fort Magistrate ordered the Rs. 40 million bail forfeited, the suspect having gone overseas. Their lawyer said Rs. 20 million would be paid that day; the court allowed until 14 October for the rest.30 Sep 2026 · Newswire · Airbus Case: Court orders forfeiture of Rs. 40 Mn bail deposited by Aravinda de Silva and wife