Expose : Business class tickets worth Rs 6.9mn issued free of charge to US Consultancy firm

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Presidential Commission of Inquiry into large-scale fraud and corruption at Sri Lanka Airlines and Mihin Lanka convened yet again today (October 05). Evidence was lead today by Senior State Council Fazli Razack, who appeared with the State Council Sajith Bandara. Testifying at the Commission today, a senior member of the finance department of Sri Lankan Airlines stated that the airlines was slapped with a USD 735,000 penalty, for the breach of terms of a loan obtained from Mashrik Bank. The witness further revealed that 29 business class tickets were issued free of charge to an ambiguous US consultancy firm named VIA Capital Partners. The value of these tickets were estimated at Rs. 6.9 million or USD 67,391. This additional expense was not revealed to the board during the approval stage of the contract and neither was it included in any financial evaluations. The witness further stated that Sri Lankan Airline's agreement with VIA Capital of USD 450,000 is not included in the company's seal register.