‘Guilty’ SriLankan Airlines staff could face suspension
The government is flexing its muscles and plans to suspend certain officials at SriLankan Airlines based on the Weliamuna Report which accused top officials and employees of financial misappropriation, Public Enterprise Development Minister Kabir Hashim told the Business Times. He vehemently rejected SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ajith Dias’ claims on Tuesday October 4, saying, “I reject the Chairman’s claims that this report is wrong. How did Rs. 900 million vanish from the airline? It’s daylight robbery.” Mr. Dias had told the Business Times, on the sidelines of a media briefing by the national carrier last week, that there was “no financial misappropriation” with regard to the persons mentioned in the J.C. Weliamuna report. The SriLankan Airlines chief had displayed annoyance at being asked questions on this report.
On Friday, an agitated Mr. Hashim – when asked to comment – stressed that he’ll be taking strict action against some individuals. “I got permission from the PM to go ahead with the investigation on the Weliamuna report. Based on the findings on this report we will be suspending a few people at SriLankan,” he stressed. When asked how many are implicated, he said that it will depend on the report’s findings. He said that responsible parties for financial fraud will be – as they should – dealt harshly. Speaking to the Business Times on the sidelines of a media briefing held (on October 4), Mr. Dias said there was “no financial misappropriation” in respect of accusations in the report against the 15 persons mentioned in the Weliamuna report.
He noted that there were four directors of the Board of the SriLankan Airlines appointed to form a committee to look into the findings of the report. The findings by these directors were submitted to the committee established by the Prime Minister’s office to look into them and they were said to have been satisfied, he told the Sunday Times Some of those against whom allegations were made are the former Chairman Nishantha Wickremesinghe, former CEO Kapila Chandrasena, cabin crew member Chathurika J. Muhandiram, the airline’s New York representative Dilan Ariyawansa, senior cabin crew member Senanaya Senanayaka, Human Resources Head Pradeepa Kekulawala, Security Chief Piyadi Chandrawansa, Finance Head Yasantha Dissanayaka and Chief Operations Officer Druvi Perera.
Meanwhile at a good governance meeting in Colombo last week, Mr. Weliamuna, a former chairman of Transparency International Sri Lanka, said those responsible for the decision to purchase four Airbus A350 super-luxury aircraft at an inflated price should pay for this dreadful crime. “There is no question that the people who took this decision (should) be held accountable in terms of criminal law,” he added. Apart from Mr. Dias, the airline’s current board comprises Rakitha Jayawardena, Sunil Peiris, Joseph. M.S. Brito, Mahinda Haradasa. R. Chanaka De Silva, Niranjan De Silva Deva Aditya and Harendra K. Balapatabendi.