President Maithripala Sirisena is expected to appoint a commission to probe into issues relating to SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka including losses allegedly due to corruption and mismanagement during the previous regime.
At a meeting of SLFP organisers at the President’s House on Friday, he said the appointment of this commission will be made after the report on the Bond Commission is submitted to him later this month.
The Bond Commission, probing the questionable transactions at the Central Bank was given two extensions to wrap up its report and is due to present the report to the President on December 31.
The government liquidated Mihin Lanka, a budget airline started by the previous government in September this year after the SriLankan management said it was running at a huge loss. The debt-ridden national carrier is also searching for a partner to turn the airline into a viable entity.
Meanwhile, it was reported that a Malaysian firm, a leisure and hospitality conglomerate, in a rejuvenation plan had offered to salvage the ailing national carrier.
The struggling SriLankan Airlines bought over a dozen A350 and A330 aircraft from Airbus Industrie and leasing company AerCap in a deal valued at over US $ two billion during the latter part of the previous regime.
The deal had put the national carrier in an even bigger financial crisis and the present Government cancelled the contract after paying a huge penalty. The President cautioned the SLFP candidates in the election fray saying that corruption will have no place in the Yahapalana government.