Recent document submitted to a presidential investigative committee has raised serious allegations of financial mismanagement, accounting irregularities, and governance failures within SriLankan Airlines, prompting renewed calls for an independent forensic investigation into the state-owned carrier’s finances.
According to the dossier, millions of dollars in sales commissions were allegedly paid to regional General Sales Agents (GSAs) for passenger tickets that had reportedly been purchased directly through the airline’s official website. The report claims this practice resulted in substantial revenue leakages while distorting the airline’s true financial performance.
The document further alleges that internal accounting methods were manipulated to portray commercially weak routes as financially sustainable, thereby supporting management decisions to pursue additional Aircraft, Crew,
Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) lease agreements. Internal financial data cited in the dossier reportedly indicate that 38 of the airline’s 52 routes operate at a net loss, including all services connecting Sri Lanka with destinations in India.
Another section of the report describes an alleged fraud within the airline’s regional finance office in Chennai, where employees are accused of altering invoices, forging executive signatures and redirecting banking details, resulting in losses estimated at Rs. 22 million. The document characterizes the incident as evidence of significant weaknesses in internal financial controls.
Questions are also raised regarding fleet expansion decisions. The dossier alleges that aging aircraft were leased despite increasing maintenance liabilities, contributing to annual maintenance costs exceeding US$200 million.
Particular attention is drawn to an Airbus A330-200 registered as 4R-ALT. According to documents obtained under the Right to Information Act, the aircraft is reportedly subject to a fixed monthly lease payment of US$275,000 through 2033, creating a long-term financial commitment estimated at US$26.6 million.
The informer argues that the lease arrangement was previously shielded from public scrutiny through commercial confidentiality provisions and contends that the transaction warrants parliamentary examination.
The dossier concludes that SriLankan Airlines requires an immediate forensic audit of GSA commission payments, a review of aircraft leasing decisions and stronger independent oversight to determine whether public funds have been managed appropriately.
The allegations have not been established in court. The airline and the individuals referred to in the dossier should be given an opportunity to respond to the claims.