Six airlines default Rs. 27.6 bn embarkation levy to Civil Aviation Authority: Deputy Minister

22 July 2025 12:04 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 17 Bookmark

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By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

Colombo, July 22 (Daily Mirror) - Six airlines including SriLankan Airlines have defaulted embarkation levy of Rs. 27.6 billion (Rs. 27,659 million) to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) so far, Ports and Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku said today.

He told Parliament that SriLankan Airlines has defaulted Rs. 24.6 billion (24,655 million) out of the six airlines.

The Minister said AirAsia Berhad has defaulted Rs. 88 million, Aeroflot Russia Rs. 508 million, Air India Rs. 57 million, Thai Air Asia Rs. 221 million and Fits Aviation Rs. 2,126 million.

While responding to a question by SJB MP Kings Nelson, he said the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has taken steps to recover the outstanding levies and added that the airlines have been informed via e-mail and in writing regarding the matter.

The Minister said bank guarantees of the respective airlines have been liquidated to recover some of the money and added that there is no legal provisions for CAA to recover the money.

“We are planning to present a Cabinet Paper to take legal action against the airlines to recover the money,” he said.

Comments - 17

Ali khan Tuesday, 22 July 2025 12:19 PM

Fits Aviation Rs. 2,126 million. why u put this big amount in last ?

1 18

Rubu Fernando Tuesday, 22 July 2025 03:20 PM

Fits Air - The Governor of the WP is associated with this airline's owning company! Govt should suspend operations of defafault airlines.

2 13

Harsha Wijewardene Thursday, 31 July 2025 03:21 PM

Srisunken drainlines a big drain on tax payers money. Burning cash, corrupt from top to bottom. Overstaffed with lazy political lackeys.

0 0

saman Tuesday, 22 July 2025 12:56 PM

when these airlines are involved in illegally avoiding payments, aren't there existing laws to charge them? Why does the cabinet have to pass a law to charge them?

0 23

Adwani Wednesday, 23 July 2025 07:33 AM

@saman - Hooks and Crooks always work hands in gloves, when some amounts are due to any institutions, that institution has the right to recover money, separate laws are not required. There is a clause in the Bank Guarantee that in the event of failure to settle the amount due will be recovered.

0 2

Daya Tuesday, 22 July 2025 01:01 PM

Definitely, some sort of corruption. Confiscate the flights when in Colombo airport.

0 9

Dr Tissa Fernando Tuesday, 22 July 2025 05:52 PM

Confiscating aircrafts at the airport would be costlier than you imagine. You might end up in expenses of more than Rs 27 billions to maintain it and also the airline may sue you gir loss of revenue. JVP mentality will not work in most situations.

2 1

Johnny Tapia Tuesday, 22 July 2025 01:02 PM

Fits Aviation is like- if you dont know where you are going, you will never get there. Cancelling flights at their whims and stranding passengers without alternatives. Selling destinations without landing approvals. Cannot understand why CAALK is permitting such airlines to operate. Its not surprising Peter Hill and his team left the airline after a promising start. Its now blind leading the blind!

0 13

Observer Tuesday, 22 July 2025 03:22 PM

Peter Hill left Sri Lankan Airways not Fits Air. Fits Air was started by Expolanka.

8 3

Travel Agent Tuesday, 22 July 2025 09:53 PM

You havent been observing the aviation industry in this country

0 2

Insider Tuesday, 22 July 2025 01:59 PM

Nimal Siripala was Airports Minister. No wonder.

2 26

ISO Tuesday, 22 July 2025 02:00 PM

from Which Year

0 16

THE PARENT COMPANY BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ALL THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS MUST BE BANNED FROM TRAVEL AND ALL BANK A/C FROZEN AND PROPERTY CONFISCATED TO REPAY THE DEBT TO CAA. Tuesday, 22 July 2025 02:31 PM

GO TAKE A LOOK AT THE PARENT COMPANY AND ALL ON THE BOARD, IT IS A FAMILY AFFAIR!!. ALL THAT BIG TALK ABOUT THE BOARD AND THEIR EXPERTISE!!! AND UNABLE TO PAY THEIR DUES ON TIME TO THE CAA!!. ONLY ONE THING THE PRESIDENT AND GOVT CAN DO IS CONFISCATE ALL THEIR ASSETS IN THE COUNTRY FROM PROPERTIES TO BANK ACCOUNTS OF BOARD DIRECTORS. ALL PLANES GROUNDED AND INVESTIGATE THEIR FAMILIES WHO AS WE HAVE SEEN IN POLITICS, ARE USED AS STOOGES TO DISTRIBUTE THE WEALTH. THE PARENT COMPANY AND FITS AIR MUST BE INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY AND TRAVEL BAN IMPOSED.

0 9

roobarbie Tuesday, 22 July 2025 03:08 PM

They may have paid but gone into the pocket of the former ministers responsible for aviation. If the defaulting companies were keeping them, why not confiscate their aircraft when they land in SLK. Unfortunately, no one would want to buy an aircraft whose ownership would be disputed.

1 7

Night Owl Tuesday, 22 July 2025 05:07 PM

The header claims 27.6billion (27,600million defaulted. Out of which biggest culprit is Sri Lankan Airlines with 24.6bn. all others put together owe exactly 3,000mn (3bn). For me, this sounds like the CAA woke up after a long night's sleep.

0 4

Mahadenamutta Wednesday, 23 July 2025 02:41 AM

Don't blame the airlines - business is all about retaining your money with you as long as possible!!! The Chief Accountant

0 1

Muthupara Pachayo Friday, 25 July 2025 01:10 PM

President had allocated funds for Sri Lankan Airlines in (AKD) budget. Sri Lankan Airlines are drainning people and tax payers money. Sri Lankan Airlines is the major defaulter to Civil Aviation Authorities Unable to see, why critics are silent and blind on making charge/ confiscate the major defaulter.Scared are!!!!

1 0

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