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News > World

Sri Lanka Investigates $2.3B Airline Corruption Case

  • Sri Lankan Airlines ordered six Airbus A330 aircraft and four A350 planes in 2013.

    Sri Lankan Airlines ordered six Airbus A330 aircraft and four A350 planes in 2013. | Photo: AFP

Published 6 April 2015
Opinion

A board appointed by the Sri Lankan government recommended a criminal investigation into an alleged corruption scandal involving the state-owned airline.

Sri Lanka's new government has ordered a criminal investigation into alleged corruption at the state-run national airline involving a US$2.3-billion deal with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus signed by the previous government.

The board discovered instances of "gross abuse of power” implicating the airline’s former chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe, the brother-in-law of ex-President Mahinda Rajapakse, and the carrier's former chief executive officer Kapila Chandrasena.

“The former government of President Rajapakse made management changes to carry out a re-fleeting of the airline with brand-new aircraft costing 2.3 billion dollars despite the availability of more cost effective alternatives,” according to a statement issued by the prime minister's office Saturday.

The panel report also found that the national carrier had tried to "hush up" serious mistakes by pilots, but gave no details. 

There were also alleged attempts to lower hiring standards of new pilots, but they were averted because two instructors quit rather than agree to reducing professional standards. 

However, Wickremasinghe rejected the findings of the inquiry Monday.

“The report is a character assassination. It is really frustrating. It was just an inquiry without giving any opportunity for me to explain my side of the story," he told Reuters. "They are crucifying me because of my relationship with the former president."

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