The investigation relates to the planned purchase of ten aircraft from Airbus between 2012 and 2013. The probe is being conducted jointly with the Criminal Investigation Department.
During the 2012–2013 period, a proposal was made to retire 13 aircraft from the national carrier’s fleet and replace them with 14 new aircraft. As part of the plan, SriLankan Airlines entered into an agreement with Airbus to purchase six A330 aircraft and four A350 aircraft.
Allegations of serious fraud linked to the deal emerged in January 2020 following an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office. The inquiry revealed that Airbus had agreed to pay a bribe of USD 16.84 million in connection with the aircraft purchase.
Investigators later found that USD 2 million from the alleged bribe had been deposited into a bank account belonging to a Brunei-based company owned by Chandrasena’s wife. Authorities say funds from the company were subsequently transferred from a Singapore account to Chandrasena’s personal account in Australia.
Further investigations also revealed that money had been transferred from Singapore to two bank accounts in Sri Lanka.
