Rs. 40 million in bail money furnished by Aravinda de Silva and wife forfeited

Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara today (30) ordered the forfeiture of the bail money furnished by former cricketer Aravinda de Silva and his wife on behalf of Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, the wife of former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena.

Accordingly, the bail money furnished by Aravinda de Silva and his wife, Priyangi Anushka Wijenayake, for Priyanka Wijenayake, who is a key suspect in the high-profile investigation into the controversial Airbus deal, was ordered to be forfeited.

Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake had been released on bail under two sureties of Rs. 20 million each.

Accordingly, the attorney appearing on behalf of the co-signers of the sureties informed the court that Rs. 20 million would be paid today.

The court granted permission for the said amount to be paid today, while granting time until October 14 to settle the remaining amount.

A warrant has been issued for Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake for failing to appear before court in connection with the investigation into the Airbus deal, and steps have also been taken to refer the warrant to Interpol.

The Magistrate rejected a request by the sureties for relief, noting that the suspect, who had travelled overseas after being released on bail, had previously failed to appear before court and had a warrant issued against her even before the death of her husband, Kapila Chandrasena.

The co-signers of the sureties informed the court that the second suspect was reluctant to return to Sri Lanka in fear following her husband’s suicide and concerns for her own safety.

An Interpol Red Notice has also been sought for Shamindra Rajapaksa, a former board member of SriLankan Airlines and son of former Minister Chamal Rajapaksa, who is the third suspect in the case.