SriLankan made over-payments of USD 1.1 Mn between 2014-2017

Colombo (News1st): SriLankan Airlines had made over-payments of approximately USD 1.1 million, between the years 2014 to 2017. Sanjeewa Kuruppu of the Components Management section at Sri Lankan Airlines revealed this at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering, and Mihin Lanka today (January 9). Testifying at the commission today, Kuruppu stated that SriLankan had delayed submitting 15 invoices to Lufthansa Airlines, resulting in an overpayment of USD 1.1 million, between the years 2014 and 2017. These payments were made as a part of the components agreement Sri Lankan had with Lufthansa Airlines and were discovered during an audit investigation in 2016. It was also revealed that in 2015, the corresponding team of Lufthansa Airlines, based in India, Germany, and the US, came to Sri Lanka for further negotiations regarding this matter. Senior State Counsel Fazly Razik, who was leading today's evidence stated, that the overpayment of USD 1.1 million, was used as a bargaining tool by Lufthansa to enter into further contracts with Sri Lankan Airlines. Sanjeewa Kuruppu further stated that negotiations with Lufthansa, to waive off the overpayment of  USD 1.1 million, are still underway.