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Mahinda appears before CIABOC over SriLankan Airbus probe | Daily FT

Ft · 🇱🇰 public Sri Lanka · · 397 words
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What to know about Mahinda appears before CIABOC over SriLankan Airbus probe

Wednesday May 13, 2026 Wednesday, 13 May 2026 11:47 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and recorded a statement for nearly two…

Claims checked 12
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
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Center100%
Right0%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Wednesday May 13, 2026 Wednesday, 13 May 2026 11:47 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and recorded a statement for nearly two…

Why it matters

Speaking briefly to reporters before entering the Bribery Commission, Rajapaksa said he expected a fair outcome from the investigation.

Common ground

“If a fair decision is given, I should be cleared from everything,” he said.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.ft.lk/news/Mahinda-appears-before-CIABOC-over-SriLankan-Airbus-probe…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 12 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 8
schedule Pending 2
info Single Source 1
help Insufficient Evidence 1
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Claim 1: “The Airbus controversy drew international attention after Airbus admitted before a UK court in 2020 to paying bribes in several countries, including Sri Lanka, to secure aircraft contracts.”
CORROBORATED
It is widely reported across multiple sources that Airbus admitted in a UK court in 2020 to paying bribes in several countries, including Sri Lanka.
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web search NEUTRAL — The matter gained international attention after Airbus admitted in a UK court in 2020 to paying bribes in multiple countries, including Sri Lanka, to secure aircraft contracts.
https://www.ft.lk/news/Former-SriLankan-CEO-Kapila-Chandrase…
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web search NEUTRAL — British court documents in 2020 revealed that his wife acted as an agent for the procurement of Airbus aircraft, and Airbus offered a bribe of $16 million.This settlement included admissions of briber…
https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-turkiye-discuss-defence-co…
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web search NEUTRAL — A settlement reached by Airbus with financial authorities in France, UK and US alludes to a total financial commitment of $1.8 million and says the payment is ‘likely to qualify as bribery of a foreig…
https://kathmandupost.com/national/2020/02/04/airbus-admits-…
+ 1 more evidence source
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Claim 2: “Further controversy emerged days before Chandrasena’s death after two individuals were arrested for allegedly appearing as fake bail sureties in exchange for Rs. 15,000 each.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 3: “The investigation relates to the procurement of 14 Airbus aircraft for the national carrier during the previous Rajapaksa administration, a transaction that investigators allege caused substantial losses to the State.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the investigation relates to the procurement of Airbus aircraft (specifically 14 aircraft) for SriLankan Airlines during the Rajapaksa administration.
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web search NEUTRAL — The bribery investigation relates to a transaction proposed during 2012–2013, where SriLankan Airlines planned to retire 13 aircraft and purchase 14 new aircraft. An agreement was signed with France‑b…
https://english.newsfirst.lk/2026/05/12/airbus-scandal-mahin…
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web search NEUTRAL — Rajapaksa was questioned for more than two hours before leaving the anti-corruption body, which is investigating allegations tied to the procurement of Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines in 2013.
https://slguardian.org/sri-lanka-ex-strongman-rajapaksa-face…
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web search NEUTRAL — Former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena was found dead at a residence in Colpetty on Friday (08), in a dramatic development that comes amid ongoing investigations into one…
https://www.newswire.lk/2026/05/08/who-was-kapila-chandrasen…
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Claim 4: “Immigration authorities were directed to arrest them upon entry into the country.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 5: “The investigation later widened to include open warrants against former SriLankan Airlines board member Shamindra Rajapaksa and Priyanka Neomali Wijenayaka after they failed to appear before court.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The claim regarding open warrants for Shamindra Rajapaksa and Priyanka Neomali Wijenayaka is only supported by one cross-reference source provided.
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cross reference SUPPORTS — the investigation later widened to include open warrants issued against former SriLankan Airlines board member Shamindra Rajapaksa and Priyanka Neomali Wijenayaka after they failed to appear before co…
https://www.ft.lk/news/Former-SriLankan-CEO-Kapila-Chandrase…
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Claim 6: “Chandrasena later retracted the allegations through an affidavit released by his lawyers, claiming the statement had been obtained under intimidation and pressure while he was denied access to legal counsel.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results or cross-references to support the claim that Chandrasena released an affidavit retracting the allegations.
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Claim 7: “Investigators claimed the funds had been transferred through a Singapore bank account maintained under Biz Solutions, a company where Priyanka Neomali Wijenayaka was listed as sole director and shareholder.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the allegation that funds were transferred via a Singapore bank account under Biz Solutions, with Priyanka Neomali Wijenayaka as the sole director/shareholder.
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web search NEUTRAL — Investigators alleged that funds had been transferred through a Singapore bank account maintained under Biz Solutions, a company where Priyanka Neomali Wijenayaka was listed as sole director and share…
https://www.ft.lk/news/Former-SriLankan-CEO-Kapila-Chandrase…
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web search NEUTRAL — In court yesterday, detectives revealed, money was transferred to several other parties from the BIZ SOLUTIONS account under the name of Priyanka Neomali Wijeynayake.
https://english.newsfirst.lk/2020/02/20/the-airbus-scandal-h…
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web search NEUTRAL — ...Chartered Bank account maintained in Singapore under Biz Solutions — a company where Priyanka Neomali Wijenayaka was listed as the sole director and shareholder — had allegedly received a payment o…
https://www.newswire.lk/2026/05/08/breaking-former-srilankan…
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Claim 8: “The appearance came amid heightened scrutiny surrounding the probe following the death of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena, who was found dead at a residence in Colpetty on Thursday.”
CORROBORATED
The death of former CEO Kapila Chandrasena at a residence in Colpetty is reported by multiple independent sources including Daily FT and other news outlets.
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web search NEUTRAL — Former SriLankan Airlines CEO found dead. 12 hours ago.Public Security Minister speaks on probe into Kapila Chandrasena’s death.
https://news.google.com/stories/CAAqNggKIjBDQklTSGpvSmMzUnZj…
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web search NEUTRAL — Former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena was found dead yesterday at a residence in Colpetty yesterday, with Police fist suspecting suicide and then claiming suspicious dea…
https://www.ft.lk/news/Former-SriLankan-CEO-Kapila-Chandrase…
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web search NEUTRAL — Former Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Airlines, Kapila Chandrasena, was found dead under suspicious circumstances at a residence in Colpetty, according to Police.
https://slguardian.org/srilankan-airlines-ex-ceo-found-dead-…
+ 1 more evidence source
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Claim 9: “Police initially suspected suicide but later informed court that the death was being treated as suspicious, with further investigations underway.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that police initially suspected suicide but later informed the court that the death is being treated as suspicious.
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web search NEUTRAL — Police informed the court that the incident is being treated as a suspicious death, with investigations underway under the supervision of Western Province Senior DIG Sajeeva Medawatta and Colombo DIG …
https://www.newswire.lk/2026/05/08/court-informed-former-sri…
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web search NEUTRAL — Police informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court that the incident was being treated as a suspicious death and that further investigations were underway.
https://srilankamirror.com/news/2-arrested-after-appearing-a…
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web search NEUTRAL — Court proceedings at the Fort Magistrate’s Court were postponed for one hour after the Magistrate left the court to conduct a magisterial inquiry into the sudden death of former SriLankan Airlines Chi…
https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Kollupitiya-Police-…
+ 1 more evidence source
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Claim 10: “Sri Lankan investigators alleged Chandrasena solicited and accepted a $ 2 million bribe connected to the procurement process.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources report that investigators alleged Kapila Chandrasena solicited and accepted a $2 million bribe related to the Airbus procurement.
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web search NEUTRAL — Sri Lankan investigators later alleged Chandrasena solicited and accepted a $ 2 million bribe linked to the procurement process.
https://www.ft.lk/news/Former-SriLankan-CEO-Kapila-Chandrase…
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web search NEUTRAL — Sri Lankan investigators later alleged that Chandrasena solicited and accepted a USD 2 million bribe in connection with the Airbus deal.
https://www.newswire.lk/2026/05/08/who-was-kapila-chandrasen…
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web search NEUTRAL — Allegations had been levelled against Kapila Chandrasena and his wife, Neomali Wijenayake, accusing them of accepting a USD 2 million bribe during the purchase of six Airbus A330 aircraft and eight A3…
https://srilankamirror.com/news/2-arrested-after-appearing-a…
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Claim 11: “Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and recorded a statement for nearly two hours in connection with the ongoing investigation into the 2013 Airbus aircraft procurement deal involving SriLankan Airlines.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent news sources (Daily Mirror, and others via web search) confirm that Mahinda Rajapaksa appeared before CIABOC and provided a statement for nearly two hours.
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web search NEUTRAL — Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) today (12).
https://www.newswire.lk/2026/05/12/airbus-deal-mahinda-rajap…
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web search NEUTRAL — Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, once regarded as Sri Lanka’s dominant political strongman, appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC)...
https://slguardian.org/sri-lanka-ex-strongman-rajapaksa-face…
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web search NEUTRAL — Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa departed the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) after providing a statement for nearly two hours.
https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Mahinda-Rajapaksa-l…
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Claim 12: “CIABOC informed court that Chandrasena had allegedly claimed portions of the funds were distributed to senior political figures, including alleged payments of Rs. 60 million to Rajapaksa and Rs. 20 million to former Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources report that CIABOC informed the court of Chandrasena's allegations regarding payments of Rs. 60 million to Mahinda Rajapaksa and Rs. 20 million to Priyankara Jayaratne.
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web search NEUTRAL — The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (19) that former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena has alleged that Rs…
https://asianmirror.lk/news/13102/airbus-scandal-ex-srilanka…
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web search NEUTRAL — 60 million was paid to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as bribes from funds received through the Airbus deal.According to the CIABOC, Chandrasena has noted in his statement that a total of Rs. 60 m…
https://srilankamirror.com/news/airbus-deal-court-informed-t…
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web search NEUTRAL — 60 million from funds linked to the Airbus transaction had been paid to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Making submissions before court, CIABOC stated that Chandrasen ..
https://www.ft.lk/news/Airbus-probe-CIABOC-tells-Court-ex-Sr…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.