Cabinet approves cancellation of Airbus deal

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Aug 21, 2017
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Public Enterprise Development Minister Kabir Hashim last Tuesday won covering approval from the Cabinet of Ministers for the SriLankan Airlines cancellation of the deal for three Airbus A-350 aircraft.

The move comes nearly a year after the SriLankan Airlines paid out more than US$ 146 million as cancellation charges for the lease of the aircraft. The payments were made after an agreement was signed in October last year. Mr Hashim told ministerial colleagues that the amount of compensation was US$ 98 million. However, the amount stated in the agreement is more than US$ 146 and he gave no explanation for it.

However, he declared that the SriLankan has got into a financial mess as a result of the actions of the previous Mahinda Rajapaksa regime. President Sirisena asked him to hold a news conference and explain this aspect to the people.