Fraud in advertising agreements revealed

Srilankan Airlines Commission:

They had signed an advertising agreement with Srilankan for five years, but in reality the agreement was for one year

Kuma Stickers, a partner which did the outdoor advertising part of Srilankan Airlines had informed the Airport & Aviation Services in Sri Lanka that they had signed an advertising agreement with Srilankan for five years, but in reality the agreement was for one year, it was revealed at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCOI) on irregularities at Srilankan Airlines, Srilankan Catering and Mihin Lanka yesterday.

Lakshika Gunatilake, Advertising Manager of the Srilankan Airlines informed the Commission that the copy of the particular agreement which Srilankan Airlines have is also a photocopy.

It was also revealed that the Srilankan Airlines had given most of its hoardings to Kuma Stickers since 2011 as they considered the company to be a sole supplier of many hoarding sites. It was only in 2015 Srilankan had asked Kuma Stickers to provide original agreements.

Earlier, Senior Manager Marketing, Srilankan Airlines, Sidath Saminda Perera informed the Commission that Srilankan had spent Rs. 415 million between year 2008 to 2018 for Kuma Stickers (Pvt) Limited and also another affiliated company Vihanga Marketing (Pvt) Limited to only set hoardings in Western and Southern Provinces, without conducting an independent survey.