Ex-SriLankan Airlines Chairman accused favouring flight attendant in ongoing corruption case

By Bhagya Silva

Colombo, July 2 (Daily Mirror) - The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate court that former SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe misused his authority by repeatedly assigning a female flight attendant to multiple international flights and granting her extra allowances, despite having no familial connection to her.

The CIABOC further alleged that the suspect had managed the airline based on personal preferences, including altering scheduled flight routes for personal gain and misusing public funds that led to significant financial losses to the government.

The complaint had initially been filed by then Secretary to the President, P. B. Abeykoon, which led to an inquiry by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry. That commission concluded its investigation and handed over the findings to CIABOC on March 17, 2017, noting that the suspect had committed acts of corruption.

The suspect has been charged with three counts of causing financial losses to the government. The charges include altering the route of a scheduled flight from Malaysia to Katunayake in 2014, resulting in a loss of USD 4,512, removing 75 passengers from a flight bound for France, causing a further loss of USD 19,160 and misappropriating Rs. 1.25 million in public funds for a political campaign event held in support of the then President.

Officials of the Commission informed the court that the suspect could not be located at his registered address in Mount Lavinia. However, he was eventually arrested on June 27 in the Nawala area based on information obtained from telephone analysis.

the CIABOC further told court that the suspect showed reluctance to assist with the inquiry by evading witness statements, though he later appeared and provided one only after being taken into custody. As such, investigators argued that releasing the suspect on bail could result in interference with witnesses and further disruption to the ongoing probe.

Appearing on behalf of the suspect, Counsel Asela Rekawa submitted that his client had been residing in Nawala since 2021 and had no reason to abscond. He further claimed that no official letter or telephone call had ever been received requesting his client to appear before the commission.

He also pointed out that since the initiation of the inquiry by the Presidential Commission, his client had cooperated with the investigation.

After considering all submissions, the Magistrate directed the bribery commission to expedite the investigation and submit a report. The former Chairman of Sri Lankan Airlines was ordered to be further remanded till July 15.