The United States has announced sanctions against Kapila Chandrasena, a former CEO of SriLankan Airlines (UL, Colombo International). He was among 14 people designated on December 9, 2024, to coincide with International Anti-Corruption Day. Chandrasena served as SriLankan's chief executive between 2011 and 2015.
A US State Department media release says that in accordance with Section 7031(c) of the annually considered Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, it designated Chandrasena over "his involvement in significant corruption."
It adds: "Chandrasena accepted a bribe while serving in his capacity as SriLankan Airlines CEO in exchange for ensuring Sri Lanka purchased Airbus aircraft for over-market value. As part of this action, his immediate family members are also designated."
Investigations found that European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V., the parent company of Airbus SAS, paid USD2 million into an account held at the Standard Chartered Bank of Singapore by Chandrasena's wife, Priyanka Neomali Wijenayake. She then transferred that money into a Commonwealth Bank of Australia account maintained by Chandrasena.
The dealings between Airbus and SriLankan officials at the time sparked investigations by Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigations Department and the UK Serious Fraud Office and resulted in legal proceedings. The matter formed part of a EUR3.6 billion euro (USD3.78 billion) settlement deal hammered out between the manufacturer and authorities in the US, UK, and France in early 2020. Chandrasena's corrupt dealings during his tenure reportedly cost SriLankan Airlines LKR17 billion rupees (USD58.5 million).
"Our actions reflect the United States’ continued commitment to promoting accountability for corrupt actors and human rights abusers worldwide and achieving the ideals of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," the State Department media release states.
The sanctions include freezes on any US assets as well as US visa bans.
