Overview
- Police said Friday he was found at a home in Colombo, with local media reporting death by hanging as investigators examine the circumstances.
- He was granted bail Tuesday after a March remand, then a magistrate issued a re-arrest warrant Thursday over alleged breaches of his bail conditions.
- Prosecutors told court he admitted paying 60 million Sri Lankan rupees to former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, while his lawyers said the statement was taken under duress.
- The case centers on alleged kickbacks from Airbus during multi-year jet purchases, with British investigators earlier tracing $2 million to the wife of a SriLankan Airlines official through a Brunei shell company.
- Sri Lanka’s anti-graft commission reopened the file under 2024 laws, and the inquiries into his death and the bribery allegations now proceed in parallel with potential fallout for senior officials.