‘No reps from General Treasury to Srilankan board of directors between 2009-2017’

There were no representatives from the General Treasury (GT) to the Srilankan airlines board of directors between the periods of 2009-2017, Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance; Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga informed the Srilankan airlines Commission yesterday.

During his testimony, he informed the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCOI) irregularities at Srilankan airlines, Srilankan Catering and Mihin Lanka that under the Act no. 15 of 2010 in Treasury Nomination of Representative include that any public enterprise should have a representative from the GT.

Dr. Samaratunaga informed the Commission that there was no other treasury nominee to check the interest of infusing public funds to the Srilankan airlines within 2009-2017.

Highlighting the procedure of appointing a representative from the treasury he said that the current practice is the line ministry nominates particular representatives from the GT and the decision goes to Presidential Secretariat, after that the Secretary to the Treasury has to decide the final decision of appointing GT representatives.

He said that recently the GT had appointed two treasury representatives to Srilankan airlines board of directors after the formation of new directors’ board.

Earlier, Srilankan Airlines Company Secretary Dalrene Thirukumar told the Commission that the Board of Directors of Srilankan was appointed contrary to the Public Enterprises Guidelines in 2003.

She also notified the Commission that the Public Enterprises Guidelines-2003 had specifically mentioned the importance of appointing professionals in the aviation and financial management sector to the Srilankan airlines board of directors.

The Act no. 15 of 2010 in Treasury Nomination of Representative include that any public enterprise should have a representative from the GT.