An Airbus deal in 2013-2014, mired in corruption had cost the loss-making state airline 400 million US dollars, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka said.
SriLankan ordered fleet of A350 and A330 aircraft as direct purchases from Airbus and also lessors. All orders for A350 were cancelled.
“We had to pay 115 million dollars as penalities for cancelling contracts due to not having proper negotiations,” Karunathilake said.
“Two old A330 aircraft were acquired paying 50 million dollars higher than market price. Due to this deal and its cancellation SriLankan Airlines had to bear a cost of 400 million dollars.”
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SriLankan had ended up paying extra monthly leasing fees due to high contract prices, other officials had said.
Britain’s Serious Fraud Office slapped fines on Airubs after a joint investigation with French authorities on bribes paid.
Sri Lanka at the time arrested then Chief Executive Kapila Chandrasena and his wife following the revelations. There were suggestions that SriLankan should seek compensation from Airbus for the deal. Procurement corruption is a serious problem related to state enterprises in Sri Lanka.(Source-Tuesday November 25, 2025- ECONOMYNEXT )
