Criminal Prosecutions Of Shiranthi’s Brother Nishantha W & AirLanka CEO

Weliamuna Report Recommends Criminal Prosecutions Of Shiranthi’s Brother Nishantha W & AirLanka CEO

A Board of Inquiry has found shocking details of corruption running into billions of dollars, manipulations of service contracting, recruitment of unqualified staff and major security breaches at Sri Lankan airlines under the former government, says the Prime Minister’s office.

The panel headed by anti-corruption advocate and senior lawyer J. C. Weliamuna found instances of gross abuse of power by former chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe whose penchant for young air hostesses cost the debt-ridden airline even more problems.

The former government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa made management changes to carry out a re-fleeting of the airline with brand-new aircraft costing $2.3 billion despite the availability of more cost effective alternatives.

The Weliamuna report recommends criminal investigations into the entire re-fleeting process and have noted instances where former chairmen Wickramasinghe, a brother-in-law of Mahinda Rajapaksa, should be prosecuted.

The Board of Inquiry (BOI) found evidence of Wickramasinghe and Sri Lankan CEO, Kapila Chandrasena falsifying documents to lease a luxury sports utility vehicle for the use of Wickramasinghe. This was in addition to a luxury Mercedes Benz vehicle and a Prado super luxury vehicle.

The purchase of vehicles pales into insignificance when compared to irregularities in the re-fleeting exercise and a fiasco involving the launch of an air taxi service which was eventually abandoned causing millions of dollars in losses to Sri Lankan airlines.

The management of Sri Lankan staff knowingly ignored conflict of interest in companies and individuals hired to advise the national carrier on procurements leading to a reasonable assumption that they were all corrupt deals.

A Cabin crew member had been released from the airline to work at the Presidential Secretariat following a request from the then Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, but she was actually released for Namal Rajapaksa‘s political work.

She had been paid by the airline, including allowances for cabin work although there is no explanation of what services she provided except that she had been over paid more than 4.2 million rupees.

The BOI recommends that the Sri Lankan airlines take action to recover the overpaid amounts from the staff member who has been identified in the report and direct prosecutions of those who authorized misappropriation of public finance.

The BOI also found that several applicants who repeatedly failed entrance tests were eventually recruited on verbal requests from the management.

The former chairman had also created a post of “SLA Brand Ambassador” and appointed his known companion, an airhostess even though no such designation was known to the national carrier. The couple had travelled abroad on tickets bought by Sri Lankan from other airlines too.

“In our investigation, we can conclusively hold that former Chairman’s association with cabin crew members exposed Sri Lankan Airlines to abuse of power, causing reputational risks as well as financial losses.

“BOI can also hold that there was no corporate culture in the board or the top management to raise such issues when a senior officer or the chairman was involved in such behavioral issues adversely affecting the company” the report said.

The BOI has found CEO Chandrasena unsuitable for the job and was surprised to discover that he was paid a minimum monthly salary of 1.5 million rupees on top of other perks and he had also enjoyed salaries simultaneously from his other appointments.

There had been a time when he drew a salary as Mobitel CEO as well as Mihin Lanka CEO. The BOI recommends criminal prosecutions of Chandrasena as well as Wickramasinghe, among other senior management staff.

The BOI also found that a London station manager who tried to stop the illegal practice of sending motor spare parts for the use of former president’s son Yoshitha had been suddenly transferred out on the direction of the former President Rajapaska.

The airline had also tried to hush up two serious flying mishaps involving the chief pilot Druvi Perera and Captain U. A. V. Pathirana.

Two staff members involved in alleged human smuggling had got off lightly raising serious concerns whether few employees continue to support a criminal human smuggling ring.

The BOI also raised questions about the suitability of appointing a retired army major general, P. Chandrawansa, who did not have aviation security experience on a salary of 450,000 rupees, without following recruitment procedure and accused him of engaging in political activities while in the employment of Sri Lankan airlines.

The BOI recommends the termination of services, or immediate disciplinary action for breaching company rules. Security Department was among the most politicized.

The BOI praised two senior pilots — Patrick Fernando and Ranga Amadoru — who had resigned in protest against attempts to lower pass marks of recruit pilots.

“Their resignation effectively prevented the selection of unsuitable candidates in the 2013 Cadet Pilot intake. In view of their bold stand taken to protect professional standards, BOI recommends that they be commended.” the report said.

The report also lists major fraud in the award of tenders and singles out a duty free deal and the sale of wine as one of the blatantly corrupt deals of Sri Lankan requiring a criminal investigation. BOI points out the corrupt manner in which General Sales Agents were appointed in many countries on behalf of the airlines and manipulations made. BOI also recommends criminal investigations on the involvement of Udayanga Weeratunga former Ambassador to Russia and Dilan Ariyawansa in several GSA appointments.

Finally the BOI has concluded that the management culture was a major contributory factor for abuse of power and external interference into the business of Sri Lankan airlines.

Source: https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/weliamuna-report-recommends-criminal-prosecutions-of-shiranthis-brother-nishantha-w-airlanka-ceo/

Now the interesting question is whether the new regime will have balls to go ahead  and bring at least one member of the Biggest LOOTER's clan to face the justice.
The biggest looter was given a free ride home and Mr 10% was allowed to slip away.
What next, let's wait and see.

If it doesn't happen, people such as Harsha , Ranjan, Sujeewa, etc will not be taken seriously in future

කිත්සිරි ද සිල්වා wrote:Now the interesting question is whether the new regime will have balls to go ahead  and bring at least one member of the Biggest LOOTER's clan to face the justice.
The biggest looter was given a free ride home and Mr 10% was allowed to slip away.
What next, let's wait and see.

Sri Lankan Airline is disaster. emirates managed it very well and earned profit for the treasury . MR destroyed it by taking over from Emirates management just because of his ego.

This brother in law should not be allowed to escape .

In fact their credibility is already on the chopping block, simply because of their inaction.
All had verbal diarrhea, when in the opposition and now quite like a Pusa.

sashimaal wrote:If it doesn't happen, people such as Harsha , Ranjan, Sujeewa, etc will not be taken seriously in future.

කිත්සිරි ද සිල්වා wrote:Now the interesting question is whether the new regime will have balls to go ahead  and bring at least one member of the Biggest LOOTER's clan to face the justice.
The biggest looter was given a free ride home and Mr 10% was allowed to slip away.
What next, let's wait and see.

Yes, agree on both points.

poor boy wrote:Sri Lankan Airline is disaster. emirates managed it very well and earned profit for the treasury . MR destroyed it by taking over  from Emirates management just because of his ego.
This brother in law should not be allowed to escape .

Pathetic to say the least.

Yes . What a mess they did !

Unfortunately still we're not sure whether proper action will be taken against them

කිත්සිරි ද සිල්වා wrote:Yes, agree on both points.  

poor boy wrote:Sri Lankan Airline is disaster. emirates managed it very well and earned profit for the treasury . MR destroyed it by taking over  from Emirates management just because of his ego.
This brother in law should not be allowed to escape .

No one will be prosecuted thats what I think. Hope I will be wrong.

Read this. Total disgrace. May be Aluthgamage paying his wife with this money. Never seen corruption like this before

http://www.inside.gossiplankanews.com/2015/04/nshk-147-lska-frmhd-lrmq-iqodfi-weus.html

Are KC and NW still in the country? NW's family is in Australia and KC too has connections there.

Wouldn't it be ironic if they flew to Australia on Emirates?

It is none other than MR should be blamed for the total blunder in Sri Lankan Airlines.

NishanthaW was working as a planter in James Finlay before MR became president in 2005. How can a planter manage an International Airline?

He sent another planter with only O/L qualification and very poor command of English language to the World's most influential country and there he had to hire a speechwriter paying big amount of tax payers money.
These little things too should be investigated but .... ?  

Monster wrote:It is none other than MR should be blamed for the total blunder in Sri Lankan Airlines.
NishanthaW was working as a planter in James Finlay before MR became president in 2005. How can a planter manage an International Airline?

Sri Lankan Airlines: Paradise for sexual predators

COLOMBO (EconomyNext) - Sri Lankan Airlines was a paradise for sex predators with the top management demanding sexual favours from cabin crew and young employees leading to a breakdown of discipline at virtually all levels, a probe has found.

The Board of Inquiry found that Pradeepa Kakulawala, the head of Human Resources adopted a laissez-faire attitude towards sexual harassment that allowed perverts a free run.

Kakulawala insisted on evidence "beyond reasonable doubt" to take action against sexual harassment and told investigators that the allegation was "as difficult as proving rape" and gave tacit approval for the practice.

"The Board of Inquiry is of the opinion that such an approach is unacceptable especially when female employees can become vulnerable in the airline industry," the report said.

Kakulawala has also been singled out in the lengthy report for his misconduct and dereliction of duty that could lead to criminal prosecutions of him and other senior managers.

"The BoI observed that there were many complaints of sexual harassment, especially against persons holding top managerial positions that were not adequately dealt with."

The BoI has also recommended criminal prosecutions of Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe and CEO Kapila Chandrasena who risk jail terms of 15 to 20 years if convicted on charges of defrauding the state in addition to abuse of power and soliciting sexual favours.

The report did not disclose the list of victims, many of whom asked not to be identified, but mentioned several young women employees who were known to have had sexual relations with top management and soared to new heights despite the lack of any other qualifications.

In fact, former chairman Wickramasinghe, 67, was personally involved in the selection of stewardesses and recruited many who failed to pass written exams and initial interviews.

The Prime Minister's office statement over the weekend referred to the ageing chairman's penchant for young stewardesses which had caused more problems for the debt-ridden airline.

Some stewardesses were chosen for jobs outside the airline, but provided full pay and perks, including flying allowances, for services rendered. One such woman employee worked for Namal Rajapaksa, MP and eldest son of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The stewardess who told investigators that she had returned to the airline after Rajapaksa's election defeat had been paid over 4.2 million rupees in excess of her salary by both Sri Lankan airlines and the Presidential Secretariat.

She was also paid a "productivity allowance" by Sri Lankan although her contribution was simply staying away from the airline.

Chairman Wickramasinghe transferred a manager at an overseas station after suspecting him of having an affair with his (Wickramasinghe's) girl friend who was also employed at the same Sri Lankan office.

Wickramasinghe became a frequent flyer visiting his favoured girlfriends parked at Sri Lankan airlines offices abroad and, in once instance, was nearly stabbed with a pair of scissors by one his women associates because he had come late.

In Sri Lanka, Wickramasinghe rented three houses at different times and insisted that he required these because he often visited the airport at night and did not want to travel after dark.

However, the head of Sri Lankan airlines security, retired major general P. Chandrawansa told investigators that the chairman did not live in the houses, but used them for "other purposes."

The retired general who had been paid 450,000 rupees a month as salary did not specify for what purpose the chairman used his official accommodation.

EconomyNext is in possession of the names of women identified in the report, but will not publish them in order to protect their privacy.

BoI found evidence of ground or inflight attendants appointed with direct interference by the former chairman and political authorities, without any justifiable reasons.

EconomyNext is in possession of the names of those recruited despite failing initial tests and interviews, but decided not to publish their names until they have an opportunity to defend their innocence.

Source: http://economynext.com/Sri_Lankan_Airlines__Paradise_for_sexual_predators-3-1461-10.html

Taste of පර -  ඩයිස්.

A friend of mine got his old job back after the election as head of a govt institution. An unqualified junior had occupied his position. Apart from blatant corruption and running down a once prestigious institution, he found his old office curtained and turned into a sex pad with mini fridge and all. The previous incumbent had been having sex with no less than three girls in his office regularly, other female workers were terrified to go to the boss's office.

I think what we are hearing now is the tip of the iceberg.

Yes, we have seen these before but never in this scale.
Sadly, Verbal Diarrhea boys do not know what to do next now.
My hats off to Arjun for bringing Peter back into Sri Lankan and appointing JC for investigations.
Others are conspicuously silent.

Backstage wrote:A friend of mine got his old job back after the election as head of a govt institution. An unqualified junior had occupied his position. Apart from blatant corruption and running down a once prestigious institution, he found his old office curtained and turned into a sex pad with mini fridge and all. The previous incumbent had been having sex with no less than three girls in his office regularly, other female workers were terrified to go to the boss's office.
I think what we are hearing now is the tip of the iceberg.

These are called national robberies done by the head of crooks (MR) & his family. Unfortunately the process to take them to justice is very slow.

I heard some one said that the questions to be asked from Gota had been sent to him before he was questioned at his residence.How nice is that.

I can't see any of the parties having any national interest rather than their narrow political agendas.

Monster wrote:Sri Lankan Airlines: Paradise for sexual predators

The stewardess who told investigators that she had returned to the airline after Rajapaksa's election defeat had been paid over 4.2 million rupees in excess of her salary by both Sri Lankan airlines and the Presidential Secretariat.

She was also paid a "productivity allowance" by Sri Lankan although her contribution was simply staying away from the airline.

Source: http://economynext.com/Sri_Lankan_Airlines__Paradise_for_sexual_predators-3-1461-10.html

Maybe they should have paid the Chairman and CEO an 'unproductivity allowance' to stay away from the airline

RPPA wrote:
These are called national robberies done by the head of crook (MR) & his family. Unfortunately the process to take them to justice is very slow.
I heard some one said that the questions to be asked from Gota had been sent to him before he was questioned at his residence.How nice is that.
I can't see any of the parties having any national interest rather than their narrow political agendas.

Agree (except the General & JVP at the moment).