No transparency in media contract for SriLankan Airlines in 2013 | Page 2 | Sunday Observer

No transparency in media contract for SriLankan Airlines in 2013

5 August, 2018

The media buying contract of the SriLankan Airlines in July 2013 had been offered without following a transparent procedure, it was revealed at the Presidential Commission to inquire into allegations of large scale frauds and malpractices in SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering Ltd and Mihin Lanka (Pvt) Ltd last week.

Testifying before the Commission former Advertising Manager designated Manori Wijerathne failed to justify the reason behind recommending one particular Media Buying Agency while another agency possessed better qualifications for the contract.

Under the evaluation conducted by the advertising department of SriLankan Airlines three agencies had produced their proposals for the aforementioned contract. One agency had received highest marks of 411 while two other agencies had got 378 and 272 evaluation marks. Meanwhile both agencies who had received 411 and 378 had submitted their proposals with a same rate of commission (8%) for media buying, marking the highest mark receiver being the best qualifier for the contract. But Mrs. Wijerathne failed to justify the reasons for awarding the contract to the second highest mark receiver.

“I can’t comment on this. It wasn’t me who appointed them as the Media Buying Agency” she said before the Commission.

Meanwhile Lakshika Jayatilake, the advertising manager of SriLankan Airlines who is under no pay leave currently informed the Commission that there was no contract review system undertaken by advertising department of the national carrier in prior to her appointment as the advertising manager in June 2013.

Under the cross examination of witness, it was also reported some major irregularities, attached to these contract review forms where then Manager, advertising Mrs. Nayomi Handunnetti (immediate senior officer of Mrs. Lakshika Gunatilake) had placed her signature in three places in one contract review which had some connection to the Carlton Sports Network. 

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