March 19, 2026 | 1:27 PM
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been drawn into Sri Lanka’s long‑running Airbus bribery scandal, after the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) informed court that funds allegedly received through the controversial Airbus aircraft procurement deal were paid to him.
Presenting facts before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (19), CIABOC stated that former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena had disclosed that a sum of Rs. 60 million was handed over to the former President. According to Chandrasena’s statement, the money was paid on three separate occasions, allegedly from bribe funds linked to the Airbus transaction.
After considering the submissions, the Colombo Chief Magistrate ordered that Chandrasena be further remanded until April 2, as investigations continue.
Background to the Airbus Deal
The case stems from a 2013 agreement under which SriLankan Airlines agreed to purchase 10 Airbus aircraft, including A320neo models, in a deal valued at approximately USD 2.3 billion. International investigations later revealed that the transaction was tainted by bribery and illicit payments.
According to CIABOC and foreign court findings, Chandrasena is accused of soliciting and accepting bribes in connection with the deal, including an alleged USD 2 million payment, as well as being part of a wider conspiracy involving up to USD 16 million in kickbacks. Investigators have stated that a shell company in Brunei, registered in his wife’s name, was used to channel funds into a Singapore bank account.
These findings emerged following a major international probe into Airbus, which culminated in 2020 with the European aircraft manufacturer agreeing to pay approximately €3.6 billion in fines to authorities in France, the United Kingdom and the United States to settle global bribery investigations. British and French court documents specifically referenced payments linked to the SriLankan Airlines deal.
Ongoing Investigation
CIABOC emphasized that the allegations revealed in court are based on statements made by a suspect and form part of an ongoing investigation. No indictments have yet been filed against the former President, and all individuals named retain the presumption of innocence.
The Airbus deal has long been cited as one of the most controversial procurement transactions involving SriLanka’s national carrier, which has since accumulated heavy financial losses, partly attributed by critics to politically influenced decision‑making during that period.
Further proceedings in the case are expected as investigators continue to trace financial flows and determine whether additional parties will be named.