The Government has announced that it would carry out investigations into the corruption-related allegations against former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kapila Chandrasena and former Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga.
“We are currently carrying out investigations into these matters and if necessary, we will take action against them at a local level,” Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa told the media yesterday (10) at the weekly Cabinet press briefing. “We will not protect anyone who is corrupt.”
Dr. Jayatissa stated that while investigations are being carried out, since several alleged acts of commission and omission by the said suspects were committed outside the jurisdiction of Sri Lanka, this causes difficulties in the investigation process.
The United States (US) has imposed sanctions on Chandrasena and Weeratunga, along with their immediate family members, for their involvement in ‘significant corruption’. The US State Department announced a slew of sanctions on Monday (9) to mark International Anti-Corruption Day, targeting individuals from multiple countries. Accordingly, the Department has designated 14 individuals, including immediate family members, from countries around the world for significant corruption and one individual for gross violations of human rights, pursuant to Section 7031(c) of the Department’s Annual Appropriations Act, rendering them ineligible for entry into the US. The Department is also taking steps to impose visa restrictions on dozens of individuals pursuant to multiple policies under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The 14 individuals designated for significant corruption include two Sri Lankan nationals, namely Chandrasena and Weeratunga. A Department statement said that Chandrasena, was designated for sanctions along with immediate family members, for allegedly accepting a bribe in exchange for ensuring that Sri Lanka purchased an Airbus aircraft for over the market value. Weeratunga was accused of benefiting from a corrupt scheme involving the procurement of MiG aircraft for the Sri Lanka Air Force. He and immediate family members were designated, the statement said.
In 2020, Sri Lanka ordered a probe into allegations of bribery by European planemaker Airbus over the sale of aircraft to the State run carrier SriLankan Airlines, after Airbus agreed to settle a corruption probe with regulators. A senior official at the SriLankan Airlines said at the time that a Colombo Court had issued orders to arrest Chandrasena and his wife Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake as suspects of money laundering.
None of the individuals named could immediately be reached for comment on the steps, which involve a range of sanctions including the freezing of any US assets and US visa bans.