It is rather questionable as to why the airline has agreed to pay 115 million dollars (nearly Rs. 15 billion) to AerCap, a Dutch lender, despite the presence of clear evidence that irregularities had taken place in the deal.
Ordered when Nishantha Wickramasinghe was the chairman, SriLankan had agreed to buy the aircraft at a price 25 per cent higher than the existent market price, minister Ravi Karunanayake has confirmed.
Ministers oppose payment
As the cash-strapped airline is unable to meet the payment itself, the treasury has to allocate the funding.
Both Karunanayake and subject minister Kabir Hashim are opposed to making the payment.
Also, there is suspicion as to why incumbent chairman Ajith Dias and CEO Suren Ratwatte are in a hurry to pay AerCap in order to cancel the Airbus order.
Economists say it is better to seek mediation of an international arbitration board to settle the matter, as it appears AerCap was involved in securing the order at a higher price.
CEO Ratwatte could not make a comment, as he was at a meeting, and he asked that the matter be referred to media manager Deepal Perera, who could not be contacted over the phone.
Meanwhile, sources close to a government party involved, said SriLankan has agreed to pay a 98 million dollar fine to cancel the order to lease three A350 aircraft.
It had to pay 17.7 million dollars to cancel the order for another aircraft that was to be delivered in 2017.
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