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Rajapaksa administration owes SriLankan Rs.122mn: Officer

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22 November 2018 05:00 pm - 40     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A total of Rs.122.3 million is owed to SriLankan by the Presidential Secretariat, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Commonwealth Games Committee for charted flights they have booked between 2006 and 2014, SriLankan Airlines Network Planning Manager Sumudu Upattisa informed the PCoI on Wednesday.

The Presidential Commission is inquiring into irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka.

Mr. Upatissa said the airlines had written to these government institutions calling for the overdue amounts.

When counsel appearing on behalf of the AG’s Department asked Mr. Upatissa, he said the money was due to the airlines for the several charted flights booked by these institutions during the Rajapaksa administration.

“There were several flights to Johannesburg, Tel Aviv, Rome and Bolivia. SriLankan does not fly to these destinations on a regular basis,” he said.

Mr. Upatissa told the PCoI that in a charted flight to Johannesburg in December 2013, there were only 26 passengers whereas it could carry 243.

He said the Presidential Secretariat paid the airline Rs.36 million for this A340 flight which has had 38 business class seats and 205 economy class seats while on another chartered flight to Tel Aviv, Israel in January 2014, the Presidential Secretariat paid the airlines Rs.46.3 million.

“Only 48 passengers travelled on this aircraft, which can carry 312. Interestingly, the plane landed first in Amman, the capital of Jordan, where 42 passengers got off. Only six people flew to Tel Aviv,” Mr. Upatissa told the PCoI.

"Another chartered flight booked by the Presidential Secretariat to take 39 passengers to Bolivia in June 2014 cost the Secretariat Rs.57 million. The aircraft can carry 312 passengers. Bolivia is also not a destination that SriLankan flies to very often."

He also informed the commission that the Presidential Secretariat had not paid the Rs.43.4 million owed for a chartered flight to Rome in October 2014 and that it had 69 passengers onboard while it could carry 312 passengers. (Yoshitha Perera)


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  Comments - 40

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  • SENA Thursday, 22 November 2018 05:24 PM

    Wow

    Lankaboy Thursday, 22 November 2018 08:09 PM

    Hope officer was not made to disappear in a white van

    Nikan-Sena Friday, 23 November 2018 09:03 AM

    Can write it off no!!?

    Imthiyaz MM Saturday, 24 November 2018 03:40 PM

    Then who is going to pay...Public? Wow

    Lankan Thursday, 22 November 2018 05:26 PM

    Mr.2.5k will pay from his pocket. Send him a memo

    Kithsiri Thursday, 22 November 2018 05:29 PM

    Heartbreaking!

    concern Thursday, 22 November 2018 07:29 PM

    It is more heartbreaking about the cb robbery.

    Gune Thursday, 22 November 2018 05:44 PM

    Is Upatissa mad to ask for money from the Rajapakses. The airline is their private property.

    ConcernedCitizen Thursday, 22 November 2018 05:46 PM

    Now MR alone can fly as PM.

    Sunil Thursday, 22 November 2018 05:53 PM

    Shame! What Ranil did past 3 and half years?. Today he is paying his own dirty political deals with heavy price. Life long lessons for everyone.

    Well Said Friday, 23 November 2018 08:44 AM

    Well Said, Sunil.Very true. RW's dirty deal to safeguard HIM from CB Bond scam, he safeguarded MR.

    Dhammika Thursday, 22 November 2018 05:54 PM

    SHAME , SHAME The POLITICAL SLAVES of RAJA horu must at least READ this to know who they are running behind .

    Upul Thursday, 22 November 2018 06:06 PM

    Please wait and see, now it will start again.

    Amara Thursday, 22 November 2018 06:16 PM

    Send a "White Van" to Sri Lankan Head Office..

    nalin Thursday, 22 November 2018 09:08 PM

    When you appoint your uneducated kith and kin to run a national airline, what do you expect? I am sure there were employees who voice against this colossal waste but the voices were either silenced or fell in to deaf ears. It is unbelievable some fools still want to bring them back to power.Instead of maintaining the strategic partnership we had with one of the best managed airlines in the world-Emirates, what did our then govt do? Fire the CEO calling him incompetent and a pub owner for refusing to accommodate the VVIP entourage at the expense of all other passengers and started a publically funded, loss making airline since the day one just to boost his ego. Very nice thinking.

    Air Thursday, 22 November 2018 07:22 PM

    This is another Fly Over us. Nothing wrong it happened diring MRs time and it is again his time now. so just forget it.

    Arjun Mahendran Thursday, 22 November 2018 07:31 PM

    Dear beloved DM, why all this 'Rajapaksha owing this and that' news at this moment all of a sudden?? There was ample time to investiage and take action. Its very clear what your journalism.. please think about country first.

    Ralahamy Friday, 23 November 2018 06:48 AM

    Dear Pal! This is not investigative reporting but mere restatement at what transpired at the PCol by Mr. Upatissa. Do you think any Editor will dare to get involved in investigative reporting after what happened to late journalists under the last regime?

    cham Friday, 23 November 2018 08:24 AM

    What really matters is whether the news item is true or false. If it is true what is the problem of reporting it? People who think about country first will not try to protect corrupt politicians of any side.

    Mandy Friday, 23 November 2018 09:08 AM

    You are defending Rajapakses - ask first cause - Did Rajapakses thik of the country when they did these misdeeds.

    Mandy Friday, 23 November 2018 09:09 AM

    Dear Bloved - don't kill DM is only a messenger. You are defending the culprits.

    Govinda Thursday, 22 November 2018 07:37 PM

    Why these kind of news come after 4 yrs. What did the RW govt do on this. Nothing and nothing. All are deal masters and rogues.

    planehora Thursday, 22 November 2018 07:46 PM

    How many returned apart from the jarapakses?

    ANACD428 Thursday, 22 November 2018 07:49 PM

    Who cares, Now MR will stop the investigations asap.

    Kanna Thursday, 22 November 2018 08:17 PM

    Its interesting to know what MR blind supports got to say for this ???

    Arnold Thursday, 22 November 2018 08:58 PM

    This guy better get out of the country now!

    Devalei Kudda Friday, 23 November 2018 06:27 AM

    Don't worry! Amount owed will be paid in full by air freighted Ethanol.

    Siriwardne Friday, 23 November 2018 07:37 AM

    Does Srilanka need politicians

    Prasanna Friday, 23 November 2018 08:07 AM

    Ko Me Sirisena...........Ko Me Sirisena......

    Charlie brown Friday, 23 November 2018 09:07 AM

    A screwed up failing airline ...and MR says he will talk to IMF ..the question is will they speak to him .Why lend someone money who cannot possibly pay it back ...it's easy to spend money ,everyone says what a great man ..we could all run the country if spending is all it took

    TONY Friday, 23 November 2018 09:10 AM

    WHY DIDNT SRI LANKAN TAKE LEGAL ACTION TO RECOVER THE MONEY. NOW IT IS TIME BARRED

    Anura Friday, 23 November 2018 09:20 AM

    MR See what you had done to Air Lanka . How can you explain this to Sri Lankan people before the election.!!

    Ronnie Bugger Friday, 23 November 2018 09:27 AM

    Don't worry, now that the mega rogue is the Finance Minister and also the Prime Minister the Sri Lankan debt will increase 122Mx 122M when the mega rogue start to fly with 100 plus henchiyas.

    Lanka Friday, 23 November 2018 09:28 AM

    Now MARA is reducing prices of this and that to hoodwink the people.The foolish people of Sri Lanka who sell their country for a piece of Karawadu or pint of kerosene whilst Rajapakse is selling their country to the Chinese.It is the fault of the people that this is happening.The people of Sri Lanka are to blame 100%,no one else.If they support these crooks for a few rupees worth of goods who else are we to blame.They are selling their children and grandchildren whilst MARA and his pack of thieves are earning millions for their children and grand children.

    Hoo Friday, 23 November 2018 09:38 AM

    Mahinda should pay back Sri Lankan tax payers the money's he scammed through this and expose dirty deals he has with China

    SN Friday, 23 November 2018 10:31 AM

    No worries. He'll rob you, keep a share and pay it back.

    John Friday, 23 November 2018 09:54 AM

    How many other businesses are owed money?I know a certain Hotel in Colombo is owed significant money but doesn't chase for it as the company wants the ability to call in favours.Corruption in other words.

    SN Friday, 23 November 2018 10:26 AM

    What was the Sec Sira doing at that time? Sleeping?

    SENA Friday, 23 November 2018 10:29 AM

    Fly a kite no no Fly a plane in SL

    Rasheed Friday, 23 November 2018 11:03 AM

    What was RW doing all these years.


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