The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has rejected the bail application of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena, who is in remand in custody over allegations of accepting bribes in connection with the purchase of Airbus aircraft.

The bail request was rejected by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama, Ada Derana reporter said.

Accordingly, the Magistrate stated that no exceptional circumstances had been revealed to grant bail to the suspect, and ordered that Kapila Chandrasena be further remanded until April 17.

This order was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama after considering the submissions made by officials of the Bribery Commission and the suspect’s lawyers.

The former Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Airlines, Kapila Chandrasena was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on March 12, 2026 for allegedly accepting a bribe of USD 2 million related to the Airbus aircraft deal.

Chandrasena, who was CEO of SriLankan Airlines during a 2013 deal to purchase 10 aircraft worth US$2.3 billion, is accused of conspiring to accept a bribe of US$16 million and receiving €1.45 million into a bank account in Singapore.

Prosecutors say Chandrasena created a shell company in Brunei in his wife’s name and arranged for the kickback to be paid into its Singapore account.