Cope recommends legal action against Presidential Secretariat For non-payment of Rs.123 mn to SriLankan Airlines

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

The Committee on Public Enterprise (COPE) yesterday recommended taking legal action against Presidential Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the failure of their part to make payments amounting to Rs. 123 MN due on Sri Lankan Airlines for certain transactions that have taken place during 

the previous regime. This recommendation was pronounced yesterday by the COPE proceedings for which Representatives of the Sri Lankan Airlines 
were summoned.  

COPE Chairman JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti said during the proceedings that these payments are related to the national carrier by those attached to the two government institutions during the previous regime. He said they have used the airline service without purchasing air tickets. According to COPE Chairman the Presidential Secretariat owes Sri Lanlan Airlines a sum of Rs. 114 MN and the Foreign Affairs Ministry owes a sum of Rs.9 MN. COPE proceedings are now open to media.   

According to COPE Chairman the Presidential Secretariat owes Sri Lanlan Airlines a sum of Rs. 114 MN