Dhaka, March 13 -- Sri Lankan anti-corruption authorities have arrested the former chief executive officer of SriLankan Airlines on allegations of conspiring to accept bribes from Airbus in connection with a multi-billion-dollar aircraft purchase deal.

Officials said Kapila Chandrasena, who served as CEO of the Sri Lankan national carrier during a 2013 agreement to acquire 10 Airbus aircraft valued at USD 2.3 billion, was arrested on Thursday, March 12, and later remanded in custody.

An official from Sri Lanka's Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption said Chandrasena allegedly conspired to accept a bribe of USD 16 million linked to the aircraft deal.

Investigators claim he received EUR 1.45 million into a bank a...