The Board of Inquiry into the misappropriations of Sri Lankan Airlines has revealed the former President’s brother-in-law Nishantha Wickramasinghe in his capacity as the Chairman of SLA, misappropriated funds of the institution to lease three houses which he had used for ‘other purposes’.
Nishantha
The BoI report notes that Wickramasinsghe first appointed as a Director who was then appointed as the Chairman by PB Jayasundara, had been paid a monthly allowance of Rs. 500,000 along with other perks although his conduct has been described as ‘appalling’ in several aspects even by the CEO Kapila Chandrasena.
The BoI team states that there was no apparent justification for the former Chairman to have engaged on a full-time basis. The Chairman however had said that it was the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who wanted him to be in SLA on a full-time basis but that the CEO and other officials have not been able to give any reasons as to why he was appointed on a full-time basis.
Wickramasinghe had been paid a monthly housing allowance which had not been specified. Investigation has revealed that he exploited this loophole to the maximum through which he had required the SLA to lease three houses in Ja-Ela, Andiambalama and Seeduwa, justifying the leases stating that since he visits the SLA office at night he has to live in those houses.
When he was confronted with the electricity bill of each house, he had said he lived in those houses alone. However, Major General Chandrawansa’s statement has made it evident that Wickramasinghe was lying since he had stated that the Chairman was using the houses for ‘other purposes’.
The former President’s brother in law had also been provided with a company car (Mercedes Benz bearing no: KL 4449) but he had also assigned for himself two other vehicles through loan agreements SLA entered into with certain other financial institutions. A Montero (no WP KV 3836) had been secured by submitting fraudulent documents and a Prado (no: WP CAB 707 ) had also been acquired.
He had also been provided with a driver, fuel allowance and a company mobile. However, apart from the entitled allowances, he had obtained a phone connection an Apple iPad and six other phones, which he still hasn’t handed over despite resigning on January 9.
The inquiry team also notes that there is prime facie evidence to support complaints of the Chairman’s ‘personal interest in certain members of the cabin crew’ and he had personally participated in the interview of the cabin crew. There have been complaints of favoritism and inappropriate association between him and certain cabin crew members and the inquiry team has noted that evidence pointing to such behavior has exposed SLA to abuse of power and has even caused reputational risks to the airline as well as financial losses.
The report contains details of one such inappropriate association of Wickramasinghe with a cabin crew member named Chathurika Muhandiram. He had appointed her, without any authority, as a brand ambassador of the SLA.
There has been no such appointment or recognition of such a post officially known to SLA and the CEO as well as the Head of HR have been unable to provide details as to how such a position was created.
Upon inquiry, the cabin crew member in question had said that she was appointed by the SLA but had been evasive and had not wished to speak on how she received her appointment. Wickramsinghe had however justified it crediting it to her competence, talents and had also said that she was related to him and that he knows her since her childhood.
Investigations had revealed that she with Wickramasinghe, travelled to Vietnam for the APOT Asia Forum in 2014 on two business class tickets, which were purchased by the SLA as revenue from another airlines.
BOI team has also noted allegations of sexual harassment that have not been keenly dealt with. The report notes that representations made by victims who made complaints of sexual harassment particularly against persons holding top managerial positions had not been adequately dealt with. The Head of Human Resources Kakulawala had said that in order to find an employee guilty of sexual harassment, the evidence should be proven beyond reasonable doubt and had said that it’s as difficult as proving rape.
The team has noted that such an approach is unacceptable especially when female employees can become vulnerable in the airline industry.
Govinda / April 11, 2015
SriLankan AirLines’ Sexual Harassment: Rajapaksa’s Brother In Law Used Three Houses For ‘Other Purposes’
Like a reader said here, this man should be castrated or emasculated, and all the stewards should go though a V test every six or 3 months. That would keep the girls going astray and the airline also virgin airlines and not a flying brothel like a reader said. This may taste sour to some but on long run a pride to SriLanka Airways.
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Sylvia Haik / April 11, 2015
Reading between the lines i.e. houses used for other purposes could only mean sexual favours to the people who appointed him for no other purpose. He has been behaving like a common pimp to the supposedly elite of our nation.
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Sinhala_Man / April 17, 2015
Govinda, Be serious! Nishantha should be jailed for a long period. I don’t know whether castration is a recognised punishment in civilised, “proud” countries. Perhaps this guy deserved it; he used his official position to coerce cabin crews.
Virginity tests are a quite different matter; if you are the guy whose undertaking them, you’ll be envied by many! Seriously, though, that, too, would be sexual harrassment. I’m surprised that feminists haven’t protested.
Having got vexed by your comment myself, I hasten to add that if it was meant to be a mock-serious comment, it is understandable, but I don’t think we should allow levity to enter in to this discussion.
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Above the Rest / April 11, 2015
Any comments, Dayan?
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Amarasiri / April 11, 2015
Above the Rest
“Any comments, Dayan?”
May be Dayan can say, “I shared the perks as a Shill and Whitewasher off the Mahinda Rajapaksa Regime.”
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burt / April 11, 2015
Nay be DJ had the privilege of spending a few nights as a guest in these houses. Now you cannot expect him to kiss and tell.
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Ebola da Silva / April 11, 2015
Above the rest: The so called Dayan himself is a sex maniac. He came into such influential position by being a pimp, he used his own girl friends.
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Tamil from the north / April 16, 2015
@Above the rest, are you expecting an answer from this racist [Edited out] of the Rajapaksas? You must be joking. [Edited out] Dayan will never respond to a loaded question like yours? He will simply pass by your question. He knows he cannot answer that question.
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Maya / April 11, 2015
Is there no end to the corruption? This is what happens when nepotism rules this country. The entire family has put their filthy hands into the till, and it is almost like a disease, that not one has been able to resist the temptation to rip this country off. I am tired of seeing these articles, and no one is yet behind bars.
Make the criminals face the highest court and face the accusations.
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maya / April 14, 2015
I agree with you completly. It is high time that all of them are behind bars.
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Dr M.L.Najimudeen / April 11, 2015
I am very positive that no action will be taken against Raja and his family members. These news items are simply to cheat the readers.
Not a single rupee will be taken back from Nishantha.
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punchinilame / April 11, 2015
More Chapters of this Report has yet to be published I guess. What about the costs of
Transport of a Swiss puppy for Mrs. Gota, issue?
All in all the BOI Report once tabled in Parliament will be handed over to the AGs Dept.
to frame charges – the no. of offences and personnel to be chraged will be nemeourus,
for which the Dept. has to be pepped up without draging matters after Gen. Elections.
The use of the BOI contents for electioneering next will add runination of the Kings
family and thus Votes to any of them.
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jay gunasekara / April 11, 2015
Why is this koti wickka as he was known in school not thrown in jail like what they did to Sarath
He was known as koti wickka and should be thrown in jail like what happened to the field marshall.Charges could be filed as evidence is unearthed.
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Legal / April 11, 2015
This is amazing.The head of Human Resources suggesting that to find an employee of SLA guilty of breaching workplace rules that the charges must be proven beyond reasonable doubt.Does Kakulawala know what he is talking about.This must be the joke of the century to tell us that the standard of proof that applies in a Rape Trials in Criminal Courts apply to disciplinary enquiries in SLA.Does the SLA have a Legal Adviser.Would this lawyer ,if he or she knows the law any better than Kekulawala, tell this head of HR that the standard of proof that applies in disciplinary inquiries is at best simply “Balance of Probability”.No wonder the airline staff are suffering with an ignoramus heading the HR Department.
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ex UL employee / April 12, 2015
what do you expect from this joker Kekulawala when he himself engages in the vice of his ex Boss Wickramasinghe
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Rohan Polwatte / April 11, 2015
4 months gonnnnnnnnne. Talk all the shit! No mothre fr is arrested an put in jail.Muderers, rapist, thieves they just mention. But no fking action is taken. IS this the sri lankan LAW? I agree no party should be arrested until found guilty. But why is anyone not found gulity you scum bags? Anyone who is arrested if they are affliated to rajavassas they get sick in jail. Then they get end up in luxurious hospital rooms. You JACK ASSES. Then they get bailed out! MAITHRI RANIL WTF areis wrong with the law in sri Lanka? Aint you fkrs smart enough to act? Or are you jack asses protecting the rajavassas and close associates?
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R.M.B Senanayake / April 11, 2015
Reporting the unseemly facts is not enough. He should be called upon to submit his explanation for the several malpractices. In the case of the financial malpractices he should be surcharged and if he fails to pay court action should be instituted to recover the surcharges. the ultra vires doctrine applies to corporations which are like companies. Funds cannot be expended for matters not falling within the scope and functions of the Corporation.
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MrRetort / April 11, 2015
Chairman SLA has inducted his nephews to house of ill fame managed by him with MR’s blessings. That is the only guidance this uncle can offer, who has only sat for GCE OL qualification. This was very well taken by Jarapaksa boys.
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Inoka / April 11, 2015
We are sick of hearing all these.Corruption was the order of the day during the MR
regime.The poor man’s money had been plundered, but our poor people are still ignorant about these and are being cheated by the cronies of Rajapakse.
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Piranha / April 11, 2015
This is the same man who was caught with a large amount of foreign currency kept illegally in his house. That was hushed up and the man got scot free.
The whole Rajapaksa famil and his extended family it seems were involved in large scale plundering of the national wealth. So far not a sigle one has been arrested only the small fry have been arrested and bailed. I assume that after the elections the government will have a stronger mandate to go after these thieves.
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whywhy / April 11, 2015
Even Kolla could be invited for evidence of “sexual”
harassment! Out of three houses,at least one could have
been for the likes of “kolla.”
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Pygmalion / April 11, 2015
The greatest erection that a man has had for a woman is the Taj Mahal!
In this case did Nishantha have an [Edited out] at all? Perhaps,we should ask those Air Hostesses involved!
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cholan / April 11, 2015
It seems this SHAME LANKAN AIRLINES offered salary,perks plus allowance for CONDOM & VIAGRA to this old rabid dog …..with full knowledge of Murderpakse & Co.,
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gamini / April 11, 2015
Why is this man Nishantha’s wife not mentioned even when the robbery took place in his house? Has she left the bugger? If so, cannot blame her. We were told that he has an offspring studying down under who had gifted a ROLEX wristwatch worth Rs. 4 mil.
This reminds me of a nice joke I have heard. Three friends who had been class mates earlier had met at a Pub. Over a few drinks each boasted of the successes of each one’s offspring. The first one said his son who was a Pilot is now the proud owner of an Airline with a fleet of planes. He had even gifted a small plane to a friend of his. The second boasted that his son was an Accountant and is the owner of a Construction Company and he had gifted a house to his best friend. The third one admitted that his son has not qualified in anything and was only a Hairdresser. In addition he was gay and one of his friends have gifted him a plane and the other a house.
Has our friend’s son being a student earned the Rs. 4 mil wristwatch in similar fashion? I wonder!
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Matilda Ellepola / April 12, 2015
let me explain here.
the said son in Australia is styling in a mission to become a pastor.
Have you heard any catholic missionery pay those would be pastors money to buy Rolex Watches?
http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2012/06/17/ul-chairman-with-undeclared-millions-under-his-pillow/
also this 9th grader, Airline chairman have a LinkedIn account too, can you belive it? guess how many connections ? just a single one:)
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/nishantha-wickramasinghe/26/358/485
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Snowden Edward Asange / April 12, 2015
LOL.. nice one regarding linkedin…hahaha just a sole person..is that his gf?am not gonna check the sorry ass’s link…
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bo / April 12, 2015
what’s the point of reading this garbage. we need arrests and prosecution. Not useless hot air and impotent law enforcers and impotent minsters
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Analyst / April 12, 2015
Bo. Ministry of ” Impotent ” should be created after the next election. Any takers for the Minister post?
Don’t worry there’s going to be a Revolution. Revolution between Singhala Modayas . killing fields of the wonder of Asia. Phase 5.
To avoid I think I will take a flight abroad but not by the Bonking Bonkers SLA.
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Medamulana Meeharaka / April 12, 2015
the new SriLankan slogan…. “BJ in the Air – from the land of no other’
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simon / April 12, 2015
Not sure why he needed 3 houses? Perhaps one for each brother ?
Knowing him and the supply of hostesses at his service he would have most certainly prefeeted 3 somrs. The other houses were for the other?
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Christopher / April 12, 2015
Why is it that after all these corruption charges against MR and his family, that still they are not in prison? People need an answer to this question.
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Seneka / April 12, 2015
Why arn’t these cheating family in prison yet. Take the stolen money back and help the poor people.who are struggling to have a meal.
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kangaroo / April 13, 2015
Arrest that prdeep head of hr a massacre, a joker, a selfless, women crazy personal who is a disgrace for the whole hr professional in the country. Has a bad casino history too
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Jim softy / April 13, 2015
U don’t think the govt will ever jail these white collar thieves and the womanisers.
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Pot Shot / April 13, 2015
This is one chairman who literally interpreted the term “Cockpit” for his own gratification to abuse a airline that he was supposed to lead not screw-up. (no pun intended)
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Off The Wall / April 14, 2015
It was common knowledge among the cabin crew that the chairman’s rocket was terminal. It rarely fired …….. mostly nose-diving like a limp parachute.
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roger / April 14, 2015
While accusing the previous regime it’s also important to look at the problem s with the new governmerivalry lemondents’ brother being appointed as the chairman of a profitable institution Is unnecessary. Though his qualifications have been highlighted any one familiar with the university system knows that diplomas and certificate courses are next to nothing. All his additional qualifications an be obtained within one to two years and it takes only perseverance to obtain that and not real intelligence. If he is an exceptional man he should have been appointed to a loss making institution like air Lanka. The other issue is his demand for salary increase which will almost come to 3 millions per month (within 100 days!!!).
Going by this the President chasing his other sibling from president’house probably reflecta sibling rivalry than anything else. I hope people will consider these things seriously when things can be put right
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holmung pee / April 16, 2015
What about his nephew and other cronies of the family who were pushing their weight around?! Can we go soft on them too? ;)
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Tamil from the north / April 16, 2015
Hey Ranil get the court to prepare the documents for this bugger too. Every young girl who was abused by this crocodile, should get her Dad and Brother/s to catch this bugger and [Edited out]
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