Sri Lankan investigators are preparing to widen the net in one of the country’s most significant aviation corruption probes, with a joint team expected to travel to Australia to investigate an alleged USD 2 million bribery scheme linked to SriLankan Airlines’ controversial aircraft acquisition in 2013.
The special investigative unit, comprising officers from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), is expected to obtain statements from key witnesses and suspected beneficiaries of the alleged illicit transactions who are currently residing in Australia.
Among those expected to come under scrutiny is Nimala Perera, identified by investigators as the holder of one of the bank accounts allegedly used in the transfer of the suspected bribe money. Authorities have previously submitted reports concerning him before the courts, and investigators are expected to seek further evidence during the overseas mission.
The investigation also focuses on two high-profile suspects who remain outside Sri Lanka. Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, widow of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena, and Shamin Rajapaksha, son of former Minister Chamal Rajapaksha, are both believed to be living abroad. Arrest warrants have already been issued against them by the Colombo and Kotuwa Magistrate’s Courts.
The Colombo High Court is currently hearing the main bribery case, while the Criminal Investigation Department has instituted separate proceedings before the Kotuwa Magistrate’s Court relating to connected criminal investigations.
At the centre of the case are allegations that a fraudulent offshore company received approximately USD 2 million in kickbacks from EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company), one of Europe’s leading aerospace manufacturers, during SriLankan Airlines’ purchase of ten aircraft in 2013.
Investigators are attempting to establish the movement of funds through foreign bank accounts, identify the beneficial owners of the offshore entity, and determine whether the payments constituted illegal commissions paid to influence procurement decisions.
The Australian investigation is expected to play a pivotal role because several individuals believed to possess critical information or documentary evidence are outside Sri Lankan jurisdiction. Statements collected overseas could strengthen the prosecution’s case and provide fresh leads regarding international financial transactions.
The aircraft procurement has remained one of Sri Lanka’s most controversial state-sector deals, attracting allegations of corruption, abuse of public funds, and political interference. The latest overseas investigation signals an attempt by authorities to pursue evidence beyond national borders, reflecting the increasingly international nature of financial crime investigations.
The outcome of the Australian mission could determine whether prosecutors are able to establish the complete money trail behind the alleged bribery payments and identify all those who may have benefited from the transaction. As court proceedings continue in Sri Lanka, investigators hope that international cooperation will provide the missing pieces needed to advance one of the country’s highest-profile corruption prosecutions.
By a Special Correspondent