Titus Kannangara provides evidence at PCoI

Colombo (News1st): Testifying at the commission today (November 27), Titus Kannangara, Senior Manager of Security Operations at Sri Lankan airlines stated that between the period, 2013 to 2018, Sri Lankan airlines had paid Rs. 224 million as passenger compensation for mishandled baggage. Kannangara stated that during the period 2013 to 2018, prohibited items such as knives have allegedly been smuggled into the highly restricted security area of the Bandaranaike International Airport by SriLankan Airlines employees. Senior State Counsel Fazly Razik argued that internal security lapses at the airport security system might have led to violations, threatening passenger safety. Kannangara further revealed that pilots and cabin crew members were exempt from security checks, following an incident involving the detection of two cans of high-performance vehicle oil inside the aircraft. The witness also revealed information regarding the unfair suspension of Mangala Priyadarshana, a highly efficient security officer, who was responsible for the conduct of nearly 100 detections at the airlines during the respective period.