Srilankan says action taken to address issues highlighted in Weliamuna report

Hot on the heels of President Maithripala Sirisena announcing his intention to appoint a committee to probe Srilankan Airlines and Mihin Air, the struggling national carrier, Srilnkan Airlines yesterday said contrary to the popular belief, the airline’s board of directors has taken all action possible to address the internal and disciplinary issues highlighted in the J.C. Weliamuna report.

In 2015 February, the then Ports, Shipping & Aviation Minister Arjuna Ranatunga appointed a Board of Inquiry headed by activist and attorney-at-law J.C. Weliamuna to inquire into the alleged gross abuse of power by the then board of directors and the top management and misappropriation of public funds, particularly with regards to the procurement and leasing of new aircraft.

Issuing a statement, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s office on April 04, 2015 said the Board of Inquiry (BOI) has found shocking details of corruption running into billions of dollars, manipulations of service contracting, recruitment of unqualified staff and major security breaches at Sri Lankan airlines under the former government.

The report of the BOI had also recommended criminal prosecution of the then Chairman, CEO and said the management culture at the airline was a major contributory factor for abuse of power and external interference into the business of Srilankan Airlines.

Srilankan Airlines in their statement yesterday said they prepared a “comprehensive response” on the actions taken by a three-member board committee in respect of the observations and recommendations made in the Weliamuna report under the instruction of the Cabinet Sub Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister. „Says “comprehensive response” on actions taken on issues highlighted by the report submitted „But fails to specify any action the board committee was said to have taken based on the report findings „Forensic audit on the financial dealings highlighted in the report abandoned by minister due to high cost