SriLankan Airlines (SLA) had paid AED 76,366 (Approximately Rs.2.4 Million) for an apartment hired in Dubai in 2012 to conduct management training, but, no training had been conducted there, it was revealed yesterday.
The payment for this apartment had been made in advance for the entire period until July 2014 and therefore, the company was unable to recover the payment although the contractual agreement was terminated in October 2013, Head of Financial Management of SriLankan Airlines Yasantha Dissanayake said yesterday. He was testifying before the PCoI on Sri Lankan Airlines, Sri Lankan Catering and Mihin Lanka.
Then SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena via e-mail, in 2012 had informed the Sri Lankan Airlines Country Manager in Dubai Angelo Punchihewa to find a suitable place to accommodate management trainees that are to be sent to Dubai as the company does not expect to accommodate them at hotels. Accordingly, the above mentioned apartment had been hired by the company but, there is no documentary evidence to prove that management trainees had been sent to Dubai.
Dissanayake said that the relevant invoice to pay this amount had been sent in the name of Shehani Rodrigo, a female employee of the company in Dubai, but not in the name of the company.
He said when he inquired from the CEO regarding this apartment and the payment made, the CEO had said that then SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickremesinghe wanted this apartment hired.
“However, considering the uselessness of the apartment, Country Manager Punchihewa in October 2013 had informed the CEO via e-mail that the contractual agreement should be terminated as it was to expire in July the following year. Based on this reminder, the contract had been terminated by the company, but, no payment was recovered as they had been paid in advance,” Dissanayake added.
The Commission also inquired into the additional payments made to Shehani Rodrigo, who was a Sales Support Officer at SriLankan Airlines Dubai Office.
Rodrigo was appointed to her position on July 1, 2012 for a period of one year. She was approved a posting allowance of Rs. 1.3 Million, housing allowance of Rs. 1.3 Million, and a transport allowance of Rs.539,000.
But, it was revealed yesterday that, she had been paid an additional allowance of Rs.826, 509 for the entire period, which was not approved for her appointment.
However, according to the Manager of HR Operations and Administration of SriLankan Airlines Lasantha Liyanage, such a payment cannot be made without the knowledge of the HR Department of the company.But, no document was provided to the HR department in this regard. “These all are actual losses to the company,”he added.
“Shehani Rodrigo resigned from her post on July 31, 2013 but, until then no steps were taken to recover this additional payment,” Dissanayake said.
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