Government orders corruption probe at SriLankan Airlines
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena appointed a special commission charged with investigating alleged fraudulent practices at national airlines SriLankan Airlines and budget carrier Mihin Lanka.
The Presidential Commission will look into loans, shares and investments between the airlines and the Treasury and banks, and also the controversial termination of the agreement between SriLankan Airlines and Emirates in 2008.
Emirates paid US$70 million for a minority stake in SriLankan in 2006 and had a contract to fully manage airline operations.
That came to an abrupt end when Emirates refused to bump fare paying business class passengers to give seats to members of former President Mahinda Rajapakse’s family.
Rajapakse then booted the Emirates-appointed CEO.
Since then it has been constantly downhill for the airline, which now has more than US$3 billion debts.
The five-member commission will take a look at the ‘termination of agreements between Sri Lankan Airlines and Emirates, including reasons and ramifications thereof.’
A separate criminal probe is already under way into a billion-dollar order for Airbus aircraft.
The Sri Lanka government has been seeking investment from international airlines under a public-private partnership but so far with little interest
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026