“He Used His Power for Personal Gain” - Ex-SriLankan Airlines Boss Remanded Again

by Zulfick Farzan 01-07-2025 | 4:11 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st); Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali ordered to further remand of former SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe until July 15.

Wickramasinghe was arrested on June 27 in connection with an investigation into three allegations of corruption.

During his court appearance, Assistant Director of Legal Affairs at the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, Sulochana Hettiarachchi, explained the nature of the charges.

She stated that the investigation was initiated based on a report submitted on March 17, 2017 on an investigation carried out by a Presidential Commission of Inquiry .

Among the allegations are:

- A financial loss of USD 4,512 to the government due to the rerouting of a flight scheduled from Kuala Lumpur to Katunayake on January 22, 2014.

- A loss of USD 19,160 resulting from the transfer of 75 passengers—originally scheduled to travel from the Maldives to France via Sri Lanka on January 26, 2014—to a different aircraft.

Quoted Statement from Sulochana Hettiarachchi:

“Your Honor, on December 19, 2014, the suspect used funds belonging to SriLankan Airlines to organize a musical event at the Katunayake 18th Mile Post Grounds to support then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s election victory. This event cost the government approximately Rs 12.5 million. The suspect abused his authority by assigning extra flight duties to flight attendant Chathurika Muhandiram in a manner that provided her with undue financial benefits. He also altered flight routes to suit his personal preferences, causing significant financial losses to the government.”

Assistant Director of Legal Affairs at the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, Sulochana Hettiarachchi requested the court to remand the suspect, citing concerns that he may influence witnesses.

In response, Attorney-at-Law Asela Rekawala, representing Wickramasinghe, requested bail on medical grounds, stating that his client suffers from several health conditions.

The legal team assured the court that the suspect has no intention of leaving the country and will fully cooperate with the investigation.

After considering the submissions, the Magistrate ordered that Wickramasinghe be remanded until July 15 and instructed the Bribery Commission to conclude the investigation and report to the court on that date.