⚖️ SriLankan Airlines-Airbus Scandal: Judicial System Tested Over Unresolved Corruption Case

• Overall Case & Figures: • In 2013, aviation state-entity SriLankan Airlines agreed to buy 10 Airbus aircraft (six A330-300, four A350-900) and lease four A350s. • Airbus offered ~$16.84 Mn in bribes to influence the transaction, with ~$2 Mn transferred to Biz Solutions Inc. (linked to the wife of then-CEO Kapila Chandrasena). • $800,000 was routed to Sabre Vision Holdings (linked to investor Nimal Perera), who alleged handing the equivalent (~Rs. 100 Mn) to MP Namal Rajapaksa. • Despite high-profile arrests, zero convictions have been secured to date. • Economic Impact on Aviation & Governance: • The fleet deal, cancellation fees, and political mismanagement generated accumulated losses of nearly US$ 2 Bn for SriLankan Airlines, placing an immense burden on taxpayers. • The corruption case reflects systemic governance failures and weak accountability that contributed significantly to the nation's 2022 economic collapse. • Legal System Concerns: • Delayed judicial proceedings risk witness disappearance—such as the suspicious death of former CEO Kapila Chandrasena—and evidence loss. • Calls are made for dedicated, expeditious trials with transparent terms for cooperating witnesses, ensuring equal justice without media trials or political bias.