Presidential Investigation Committee to probe corruption at SriLankan and AASL

July 2, 2025 at 1:03 PM

Cabinet approval has been granted for the establishment of a Special Presidential Investigation Committee to investigate fraud, corruption, and irregularities that occurred in the past within SriLankan Airlines Limited and the Airport and Aviation (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited. 

The Special Presidential Investigation Committee, headed by former Auditor General, Gamini Wijesinghe, is tasked with submitting a detailed report with recommendations on alleged fraud, corruption, and irregularities that occurred from 2010 – 2025.

The proposal to appoint the Special Presidential Investigation Committee for this purpose had been presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. 

The government says that although a contribution to the economic improvement of the country is rendered by SriLankan Airlines Limited, a greater cost has to be borne by the government for its maintenance, adding that the annual loss to the company has been unbearable to the country’s economy. 

The public expects to successfully maintain this company by converting it to an economically advantageous, efficient and productive state entity utilizing novel technology, it said. 

The government points out that in order to realize this objective, a thorough formal study and evaluation of the transactions and incidents should be carried out to unearth the causes that led the Sri Lankan Aviation Company towards the current situation. 

The government further stated that attention has also been drawn by various parties regarding the requirement to investigate the activities of the Airport and Aviation (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited, which is responsible for airport monitoring. 

As such, the proposal to appoint a Special Presidential Investigation Committee for these purposes has received a Cabinet nod. (Newswire)