PRECIFAC to grill former Minister over SriLankan Catering today

By Shanika Sriyananda

Former Minister of Civil Aviation Priyankara Jayaratne and several other top officials of SriLankan Airlines and SriLanka Airlines Catering will testify at the Anti-Corruption Commission today over the alleged loss of Rs. 39 million incurred to the Government

The initial investigations of the Presidential Commission Investigating Fraud, Corruption, Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) have revealed that those who were involved in the financial fraud in the Sri Lankan Airlines Catering deal had misused state privileges and abused state resources and authority during the previous regime.

They are expected to testify before PRECIFAC Commissioners High Court Judges Padman Surasena, Amendra Seneviratna, Vikum Kaluarachchi, Gihan Kulatunga and former Auditor General B. A. Premathilake at the BMICH at 2 pm today.

Former Sri Lankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe , CEO of SriLankan Airline Catering  Sarath Fernando, Former CEOs of SriLankan Airlines Kapila Chandrasena, Manoj Vaas Gunewardene and Former Air hostess Nithya Senani Samaratunge will also be questioned by the Commissioners.

However, former Minister Jayaratne, who appeared before the PRECIFAC earlier denying the accusations leveled against him, said that the former Chairman and the Board of Directors of the Sri Lankan Airlines should be held responsible for the allegation over the SriLankan Airlines Catering.