Professor Sonal Fernando has claimed that commissions offered to buyers are included in the price of aircraft purchases and that refusing to accept such commissions could result in the transaction being cancelled.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the Airport Garden Hotel in Katunayake on Thursday (10), Prof. Fernando said aircraft sellers provide such commissions as part of the purchasing process.
Prof. Fernando, a former Director of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. (AASL), said aircraft could be purchased directly from manufacturers, through authorised agents or via brokers.
He claimed that purchasing aircraft through an agent or broker could be more financially advantageous and said commissions offered by aircraft sellers were a normal feature of such transactions.
His comments come amid renewed attention on SriLankan Airlines’ past aircraft procurement deals, following the recent arrest and remand of SLPP National Organiser and MP Namal Rajapaksa over an alleged Rs. 100 million bribery transaction linked to an aircraft procurement deal involving the national carrier. Rajapaksa has denied wrongdoing. (Newswire)
