Rumesh Dilan Wirasinghe the CEO of Phoenix Duty Free Services, the controversial duty free supplier of SriLankan Airlines In-Flight Duty Free has been named in the offshore leaks database released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), Colombo Telegraph investigation found.
Phoenix Duty Free Services which started off as Phoenix Rising Ventures Ltd, when as an unknown entity and having no prior experience in the business signed off a deal with the airline to supply duty free items for sale on board and also the supply wines and champagne for consumption in flight.
The contract was signed by the former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena and Manager In Flight Services Rashmore Ferdinands, with the approval of former Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe the brother in law of the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The controversial awarding of the contract out of tender procedures was also highlighted in the “Weliamuna Report” when the national carrier was ordered to be investigated by the government in February of 2015. The report highlighted staggering losses the airline was incurring after the signed contract between the management of the airline and Phoenix Duty Free officials was amended mid way through the contract.
Based on lawyer Weliamuna’s report, the airline will eventually stand to lose over US $ 8 million when the deal which strangely still continues comes to an end with the current financial year.
The ICIJ report states that Rumesh Dilan Wirasinghe has two off shore accounts linked to Canada.
Angry Bird / May 14, 2016
This guy Dilan is unbelievable. You cant even find a picture of him on the internet. He is known as Rumesh Wirasinghe to some and Dilan Wirasinghe to others. 47 year old former Thomian from 2nd Lane Dehiwela is what I am told and now lives in Canada. He teamed up with Raju Chandiram for the perfect robbery of the airline. US $ 8 million..WOW! that’s a lot of money to bank offshore. Rolex wrist watches gifted for former Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe was a true story after all. Why are they still permitted to rape the airline after weliamuna reported them. This is unjustifiable. Are there others in the airline’s management benefiting from this operation still?
WOW……..unbelievable !!!!
Hope the airline can recover the monies as explained by Weliamuna Report and catch the guy when he comes down to Colombo next.
/
Douglas / May 14, 2016
It is reported that there will be a debate on SriLankan in Parliament on 16 & 17th. Let us see what former President and the present MP for Kurunegala is going to say. Will he attend the sittings? It would also be interesting to “hear” the stalwarts of Joint Opposition (Dinesh,Vasu,Gammanpila,Bandula,Wimal) and the Leader of the Opposition on this National Issue. The ex President must come to the Parliament on both these days and defend all that happened during his term of office and the activities of his own Brother-in-Law whom he appointed as the Chairman. Let us see what “HE” has to say.
/