London : The Sri Lankan government has urged for a criminal investigation into the national airlines of the country following corruption charges. The statement issued by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s office has accused former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, for making changes within the administration and allowing 2.3 billion dollar purchase of 10 new aircrafts “despite the availability of more cost-effective alternatives,” the BBC reported.
The loss-making Sri Lankan airline is 95 percent state-owned and five percent owned by staff. The statement also accused former chairman of the airline and Rajapaksa’s brother-in-law Nishantha Wickramasinghe of causing the airline “reputational damage” through his “penchant for young air hostesses”. The investigation also revealed that the airline attempted to “hush-up two serious flying mishaps”.
