Sri Lanka’s troubled national carrier and its airport operator are once again under scrutiny, as the Presidential Special Investigation Committee (PSIC) has officially called for public complaints, views, and proposals regarding alleged fraud, corruption, and malpractices at SriLankan Airlines and Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL).
The Committee, appointed by President Anura Kumara Disaanayake , announced through the Presidential Media Division that submissions would be accepted from employees, staff members, and the general public until September 5.
Complaints can be sent via email to [email protected] or through WhatsApp at 070 3307700. “Appointments for discussions will then be scheduled with the Committee,” the announcement stated.
The move comes at a time when SriLankan Airlines is grappling with staggering sovereign debt obligations, years of accumulated losses, and mounting allegations of malpractice.
The airline, which was re-nationalized in 2008 following the termination of its partnership with Emirates, has since become one of the country’s biggest financial burdens. Industry analysts estimate its outstanding debt at over USD 1.2 billion, a liability that continues to weigh heavily on Sri Lanka’s already strained public finances.
Despite modest gains in passenger revenue recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline has failed to achieve profitability.
For the financial year 2023/24, it reported losses exceeding USD 100 million, underscoring deep structural inefficiencies and poor financial management.
Aviation sector watchdogs and trade unions have repeatedly flagged irregular procurement practices, over-inflated aircraft leasing contracts, and political interference in recruitment and promotions as key reasons for the airline’s persistent losses.
Corruption allegations extend to Airport and Aviation Services (AASL) as well, with several reports by the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka highlighting questionable tender awards, inflated project costs, and misuse of resources.
AASL, which oversees the management and development of Sri Lanka’s international airports, has long faced criticism for delays in infrastructure upgrades and allegations of kickbacks in contract awards.
The Presidential Special Investigation Committee’s call for submissions is widely seen as an attempt to address these longstanding issues. However, skepticism remains about whether genuine accountability will follow, given the lack of follow-through on previous probes into state-owned enterprises.
SriLankan Airlines, once considered a regional aviation leader, now serves as a symbol of fiscal mismanagement. Its accumulated losses and debt servicing commitments continue to threaten Sri Lanka’s fragile economic recovery, especially as the government undertakes painful fiscal reforms under the IMF bailout program.With mounting pressure from international creditors to restructure loss-making state-owned enterprises, the future of SriLankan Airlines and AASL will depend on whether this inquiry results in meaningful reforms or becomes yet another missed opportunity for change
