Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake‘s sister in law Rosie Malasekara confirmed the alleged nepotism charges leveled against her husband Gihan Malalasekara and his exposed attempt of securing the Sri Lankan Airlines Sales Manager (UK) post by Colombo Telegraph earlier today, when she posted an explanatory comment under the website’s story and also on her Facebook page.

Responding to Colombo Telegraph’s expose, Rosie Malalasekara drew more flak than sympathy from other Colombo Telegraph commentators when she posted reasons as to why the airline should appoint her husband to the role.

Her more emotional posting on her Facebook wall citing the multi talents of her hubby as a husband, father, sportsman and a human being received her desired results.

“she should never have taken matters to her own hands and made such comments in response to the said article on social media. This will now certainly have a direct impact on the eventual selection criteria when the senior management has to decide on the final candidate. Her comment has now had a direct influence on the overall selection criteria and is a conflict of interest now. We do have a media spokesman for the airline and any responses should have come from him and not Mrs. Malalasekara who is not an employee of the airline” a very senior manager of the airline who was disappointed by Rosie Malalasekara’s comment told Colombo Telegraph on the condition of anonymity.

The criticism against nepotism under the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government took off when President Sirisena appointed his brother P.G. Kumarasinghe to the post of Chairman Sri Lanka Telecom as soon as he was voted as the head of state earlier in Janaury.

However the acceleration of criticism against nepotism under the current yahapalanaya government took off when President Maithripala Sirisena got his son Daham Sirisena to accompany the national delegation to the United States of America to attend the United Nations General Assembly.

In between these happenings the President’s daughter Chathurika Sirisena got government officials and police officers to accompany her to villages in the Pollanaruwa District.

The President so far failed to issue a statement or apologize regarding these issues.

The national carrier then tagged along with President Sirisena’s lead when it went on to appoint Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s close ally Charitha Ratwatte’s brother Capt. Suren Ratwatte to the post of Chief Executive Officer, a post the pilot never held before.

Minister Karunanayake’s ‘family affair appointment’ was first highlighted when his brother in law and retired policeman T.M. Bangsa Jayah was appointed to the post of Managing Director of the country’s biggest Insurance Company, Sri Lanka Insurance.

Now even Minister of Ports Arjuna Ranatunga is also shortly set to appoint his brother Dhammika Ranatunga to the post of Chairman Ports Authority in his Ministry.

Rosie Malalsekara’s Facebook posts;