The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) yesterday (19) informed the Fort Magistrate’s Court that CCTV systems installed at the Barnes Place residence of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena, as well as at the residence where he was found dead, had not been recording footage.
The CCD further told Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara that investigations had found no evidence of any outsider entering either Chandrasena’s residence or the residence of his brother-in-law, former Sri Lankan cricketer Aravinda de Silva, between 5 and 7 May.
The facts were revealed when the magistrate inquiry into Chandrasena’s death was taken up before court.
Chandrasena, the former CEO of SriLankan Airlines, had been remanded over allegations relating to the acceptance of millions of US dollars in bribes linked to the purchase of an 11-aircraft fleet for the national carrier. He was later released on bail, but fresh warrants had reportedly been issued against him before he was found dead under suspicious circumstances in a room at Aravinda de Silva’s residence on Pedris Road, Kollupitiya.
Appearing before court, CCD Officer-in-Charge Chief Inspector Arun Krishantha, along with Sub-Inspector Jayantha Lal, informed court that the investigation had been handed over to the CCD on the instructions of the Deputy Inspector General in charge of the Western Province.
Presenting a progress report on the investigations, Sub-Inspector Jayantha Lal said inquiries had revealed that the CCTV systems installed both at Chandrasena’s Barnes Place residence and at Aravinda de Silva’s residence had not been recording footage.
However, he said CCTV footage obtained from neighbouring houses showed no evidence of any outsider entering the two residences.
During the proceedings, Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara questioned police regarding the CCTV systems.
“Were the CCTV cameras installed at the house where the deceased was found recording footage?” the Magistrate asked.
Police replied that no footage had been recorded.
The Magistrate then inquired who had installed the CCTV systems.
Police informed court that they intended to record statements from an engineer attached to a company identified as “Fednan”, which had installed the cameras.
Police further stated that two unidentified types of medication had been discovered in two medicine packets found on the bed in the room where Chandrasena was found dead. One packet reportedly contained 11 tablets, while the other contained nine tablets.
The CCD informed court that the medication would be forwarded to the Government Analyst to determine the nature of the drugs.
Police also sought court permission to forward two DVR machines containing CCTV footage obtained from neighbouring houses near Aravinda de Silva’s residence to the Government Analyst for examination.
The Magistrate also questioned police regarding the two individuals who had stood surety for Chandrasena’s bail.
Police said statements had not yet been recorded from them as the two individuals could not be contacted earlier, adding that they intended to obtain their statements.
The Magistrate questioned why statements from two key witnesses in the case had still not been recorded.
Police responded that the two individuals had been in remand custody, making it difficult to obtain statements from them.
The Magistrate then remarked that it should have been easier to obtain statements from them while in prison and questioned why police had not sought a court order earlier for that purpose.
Police informed court that they intended to seek permission to record statements from the two individuals while in prison.
After considering the submissions, the Magistrate issued the relevant orders and directed police to report further progress of the investigations to court tomorrow (21).
