Sajin no longer on COMOS board, Ratmalana more civil

  Sri Lanka’s Aviation, Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said today that former Monitoring MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardena was no longer a director on the board of the controversially operated COSMOS Aviation. He noted that with the Sirisena administration assuming office Rs.24 million due to the government was immediately paid up by the aviation company that also operates a flying school. He was speaking at a media briefing held at the Ratmalana airport soon after an inspection tour of the airport this morning. Mr. Ranatunga said the airport would in future be used mainly as a civil airport while maintaining the security of the location under the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). During the meeting he also said that at times officials at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Airport and Aviation Services (AASL) were made helpless in carrying out their duties and this (interference) would not be allowed in the future. A 2010 gazette nofication announcing the licence given to the company cites Mr. Gunawardene as one of the founder/directors. (SD)