New Presidential Committee to investigate fraud, aircraft leases, and recruitment practices from 2010 to 2025
In a renewed push for accountability, the Sri Lankan Cabinet has approved the appointment of a Special Presidential Investigation Committee to conduct a sweeping probe into alleged fraud, corruption, and operational irregularities at SriLankan Airlines and Airport and Aviation (Sri Lanka) Ltd., spanning the period from 2010 to 2025.
The newly appointed Committee will be chaired by former Auditor General H.M. Gamini Wijesinghe and is mandated to revisit key financial and administrative areas such as aircraft leasing agreements, recruitment practices, and various transactions not previously examined in full. Earlier inquiries, including those by the J.C. Weliamuna Committee, will be supplemented by this broader and more detailed examination.
Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, speaking at the weekly Cabinet briefing, emphasized that the move is not geared toward privatisation but rather toward diagnosing the root causes of sustained losses and charting a path to restore the airline as a sustainable, efficient State-Owned Enterprise (SOE).
“While the airline has contributed economically in some respects, the fiscal burden it imposes annually is unsustainable,” Dr. Jayatissa stated. He said the Committee aims to present actionable insights for restructuring and reform, rather than simply passing losses on to the taxpayer.
The probe will also extend to Airport and Aviation (Sri Lanka) Ltd., the body responsible for overseeing airport operations, in response to mounting public concern over its governance and transparency.
In parallel, targeted investigations into specific complaints continue under the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). These efforts remain distinct from the broader mandate of the Presidential Committee, which is expected to present systemic findings and recommendations.
The proposal, submitted by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, received unanimous Cabinet approval.