President Launches Probe into SriLankan Airlines Over Corruption Claims

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed the establishment of a special committee under the Presidential Secretariat to investigate allegations of corruption and mismanagement at SriLankan Airlines, the country’s national carrier.

The directive was issued during a high-level meeting held yesterday (20) at the Presidential Secretariat, attended by the airline’s Board of Directors and representatives from all affiliated trade unions.

The President emphasized the government’s commitment to retaining state ownership of the airline while eliminating financial losses and steering the institution toward recovery.

“Rebuilding SriLankan Airlines is impossible without a unified effort,” he stated, urging all stakeholders to take collective responsibility.

Asserting the government’s role as the political authority, the President reiterated its commitment to making “all necessary sacrifices” to rescue Sri Lanka from its economic crisis. He emphasised that reviving the national carrier is the shared responsibility of its entire workforce.

Highlighting the allocation of Rs. 20 billion from the national budget to support the airline, President Dissanayake stressed the importance of fiscal accountability, noting that public funds must be used efficiently and transparently. He also welcomed the airline’s positive operational performance in April, where revenue exceeded expectations.

The Board of Directors presented new proposals aimed at transforming SriLankan Airlines into a profitable entity. Trade union representatives pledged their full support for these reforms.