Former Sri Lanka cricket great Aravinda de Silva has suddenly found himself at the centre of a court development in Colombo, with an arrest warrant issued against him and his wife, Priyanga Anushka Wijenayake, on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
The development has attracted huge attention because de Silva is one of the most celebrated cricketers in Sri Lankan history. However, there is an important detail that should not be missed: the warrant was issued because he and his wife failed to appear in court as bail sureties, not because they were named as suspects in the Airbus investigation.
The Colombo Fort Magistrate, Pasan Amarasena, issued the warrants when a case connected to former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena and an Airbus transaction was taken up before the court.
According to Daily Mirror, Chandrasena had previously been named as a suspect in the case. He is now deceased, while his wife had been released on bail and was reportedly abroad. Aravinda de Silva and his wife had stood as sureties when that bail was granted.
Why was the warrant issued against Aravinda de Silva?
The circumstances behind Wednesday’s order are important.
When the case was called before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court, the suspect was absent. The two individuals who had stood as bail sureties — Aravinda de Silva and Priyanga Anushka Wijenayake — were also not present.
The court subsequently issued warrants against the sureties.
But there was a significant reason given for de Silva’s absence. His mother had passed away, and her funeral was scheduled for Wednesday. His lawyer informed the court about the situation.
The magistrate directed that relevant documents concerning the circumstances be submitted and that the matter be brought to the court’s attention when the warrants are considered for recall.
A separate report by Newswire said de Silva was unable to attend because of his mother’s funeral. It also quoted a lawyer familiar with the matter as saying that de Silva is not a suspect in the Airbus case and can appear before court and request that the warrant be recalled.
De Silva’s mother’s funeral was held in Colombo on Wednesday, with family members, friends and former cricketers attending. She had passed away on Monday, September 14.
That distinction is crucial when discussing the case. An arrest warrant connected with a person’s role as a bail surety is not the same thing as an allegation that the person committed the underlying offence.
What is the Airbus transaction case?
The court proceedings are connected to an investigation into alleged corruption surrounding Airbus aircraft procurement deals involving SriLankan Airlines.
Kapila Chandrasena, the former CEO of SriLankan Airlines, had been named as a suspect in the investigation. His wife had been granted bail, with Aravinda de Silva and his wife standing as sureties.
The latest court action therefore relates to the bail proceedings and the responsibilities attached to the sureties.
Newswire specifically reported that the warrant issued against de Silva relates to his absence from court in his capacity as a surety and does not indicate that he is a suspect in the Airbus investigation.
The case has already taken a dramatic turn because Chandrasena died earlier this year. Daily Mirror reported in May that the former SriLankan Airlines CEO was found dead at de Silva’s Kollupitiya residence after an arrest warrant had been issued in connection with the investigation.
The latest court proceedings are therefore part of a wider investigation that has continued despite Chandrasena’s death.
Aravinda de Silva’s legendary cricket career
Long before today’s court headlines, Aravinda de Silva established himself as one of the most influential cricketers in Sri Lanka’s history.
His international career stretched across nearly two decades. He made his Test debut against England at Lord’s in 1984 and went on to represent Sri Lanka in 93 Tests and 308 ODIs.
His numbers remain impressive.
In Test cricket, de Silva scored 6,361 runs at an average of 42.97, including 20 centuries and 22 fifties. His highest Test score was 267 against New Zealand.
In ODIs, he accumulated 9,284 runs at an average of 34.90, with 11 centuries and 64 fifties. His highest ODI score was 145. He also contributed with the ball, taking 29 Test wickets and 106 ODI wickets.
But statistics alone do not explain his importance to Sri Lankan cricket.
The 1996 World Cup hero
For many Sri Lankan cricket fans, de Silva will forever be associated with the country’s historic 1996 World Cup triumph.
He produced one of the greatest individual performances in a World Cup final when Sri Lanka faced Australia in Lahore.
After contributing with the ball by taking three wickets, including those of Mark Taylor, Ricky Ponting and Ian Healy, de Silva returned to the crease and produced an unbeaten 107 to guide Sri Lanka towards its first men’s World Cup title.
The ICC notes that he remains the only player to score a century and take three wickets in a World Cup final.
His 1996 tournament was remarkable beyond the final as well. He scored 448 runs, including a 145 against Kenya, and played a central role in Sri Lanka’s successful campaign.
In 2023, the ICC inducted de Silva into its Hall of Fame, recognising his contribution to Sri Lanka’s transformation into a major force in international cricket.
What happens next?
For now, the key issue is the court process surrounding the warrant.
The latest reporting indicates that de Silva can approach the court and seek recall of the warrant. The magistrate has also directed that documents relating to the circumstances surrounding the absence be produced.
Therefore, it would be premature to describe the development as an indication that the former Sri Lankan star has been accused of wrongdoing in the Airbus investigation.
The distinction between being a suspect and being a bail surety is particularly important in this case.
As the legal proceedings continue, more details are likely to emerge about the Airbus investigation and the status of the individuals connected to the bail proceedings.
For cricket fans, this is a very different kind of headline involving a player remembered for one of the finest World Cup final performances ever produced.
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