Srilankan spent Rs.415mn to put up hoardings: Official tells Pcol
Srilankan Airlines General Manager (Marketing), Sidath Saminda Perera told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (Pcol) yesterday that the national carrier had paid a whopping Rs.415 million to Kuma Stickers (Pvt) Limited and Vihanga Marketing (Pvt) Limited between 2008 to 2018 to put up hoardings in the Western and Southern Provinces.
He made this statement in connection with irregularities at Srilankan Airlines, Srilankan Catering and Mihin Lanka.
“The two entities concerned have quoted six similar locations in the Southern Province. However, Vihanga Marketing had quoted three other locations at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) which were handled by Kuma Stickers at that time,” Mr. Perera said.
On a different note, he said the head of legal affairs, the company secretary and the General Managers of Airport and Aviation Services at Srilankan Airlines had been appointed without having to face a single interview.
Another witness, Srilankan Airlines Commercial and Properties Manager, Karunaratnage Somaratne de Silva informed the commission that the
Vihanga Marketing had quoted three other locations at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) which were handled by Kuma Stickers at that time
national carrier had given a oneyear contract to Kuma Stickers to set up advertisements in the departure walkway and lobby, and that the same agreement had been extended for another four years. However, Kuma Stickers had forged an agreement amending the time period as five years, he said.
Hence, the commission ordered the Attorney General’s Department to investigate the particular document.
Meanwhile, Srilankan Airlines Network Planning and Research Manageress, Priyadarshani Epitawala told the commission that there was not enough exposure or brand promotion during former CEO Manoj Gunawardene’s tenure.
“After Kapila Chandrasena took over as CEO, he instructed me to put up hoardings. He shared the contact details of Kuma Stickers asking me to approve putting up hoardings as it had done a lot to the then government,” she said.