Former cricketer Aravinda de Silva told the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court that Kapila Chandrasena had been deeply distressed over being remanded again due to issues relating to sureties, despite having been granted bail.He made this statement while giving evidence at the magisterial inquiry into the death of Chandrasena.

The Criminal Investigation Department today, for the first time, reported facts to the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court regarding the ongoing investigations into the suspicious death of Chandrasena, the former Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lankan Airlines.

Officers informed court that investigations into the questionable death have now been handed over to the CID. Accordingly, a further report on the investigations conducted thus far, along with two annexures relating to the post-mortem examination, were submitted to court. Investigators also stated that several types of medication recovered from the scene, along with two blood samples of the deceased, would be produced in court as case material.At this point, Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara inquired whether the ligature used by the deceased had been forwarded to the Government Analyst.

In response, investigators stated that it had been listed as a production and would be forwarded to the Government Analyst on the same day.The Magistrate further questioned whether there had been any damage to the upper surface of the door from which the deceased is suspected to have been suspended.

Investigators replied that no such damage had been observed; however, several fibre samples had been collected during examination of that surface.They further informed court that the deceased’s iPhone 16 Pro Max could not yet be accessed due to its high-security features. They explained that the device is protected by facial recognition (Face ID), and attempts to unlock it by presenting the deceased’s face had been unsuccessful.

Accordingly, investigators requested court approval to forward the device to its parent company or a suitable institution for unlocking.The first witness to testify at the magisterial inquiry was Priyangi Anushka Wijenayake, the elder sister of Chandrasena’s wife, Priyanga Neomali Wijenayake. She stated that her sister and Chandrasena had been living separately, and that her sister had been residing in Australia with their two children since late last year. She further noted that Chandrasena was not a frequent visitor to their home, having visited only about four times over a period of ten years.

She recounted that on 6 May 2026, after being granted bail, Chandrasena arrived at their residence, where she offered him refreshments and a meal. He later returned the following day around 4 p.m., handed over his car keys, and requested that the vehicle be sent to his residence via a driver.She added that later that evening, after returning home around 10 p.m., Chandrasena came downstairs from the upper floor. He did not have dinner that night. Around 11 p.m., upon her husband’s request, a room on the first floor was prepared for him.

The following morning, after repeated calls to Chandrasena went unanswered and knocks on the door yielded no response, she and a lawyer used a master key to open the room. The lawyer entered first, and she observed that no one was on the bed, while a chair had been positioned towards the bathroom. The lawyer then advised them to leave the room.

Subsequently, Aravinda de Silva, who is married to Chandrasena’s wife’s sister, also gave evidence.He stated that on the day bail was granted, Chandrasena had requested him to arrange funds and sureties through a lawyer. However, as two proposed sureties lacked Grama Niladhari certification, alternative sureties were arranged, and bail was secured the following day.

He further stated that Chandrasena later informed him of another legal issue and was advised to come to their residence to consult a lawyer. At that stage, a warrant had already been issued for Chandrasena’s arrest. Legal advice was that he should be produced before court the following day.He added that Chandrasena appeared reluctant to return to custody and had expressed distress, stating that he had only just been released and was now being sent back again.

Later that night, a room was prepared for him, and he was advised to rest. However, the following morning, after he failed to respond, the door was opened using a master key, leading to the discovery.Further evidence in the magisterial inquiry is scheduled to be heard on the 14th.Meanwhile, two individuals alleged to have arranged two fraudulent sureties for Chandrasena were produced before court today by the Keselwatta Police. The Magistrate ordered that they be remanded until tomorrow, and that one suspect be produced for an identification parade.