The Finance Ministry couldn’t have been unaware of the national carrier’s decision to pay bonuses to its employees, as a senior ministry official was on the airline Board of Directors, a high-ranking state official said yesterday on condition of anonymity.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe serves as the Finance Minister.
The President’s Media Division (PMD) yesterday (10) said that there hadn’t been any other media releases in this regard since the President had called for explanation from SriLankan Airlines and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) a week ago about the bonus issue.
President Wickremesinghe called for an explanation from SriLankan Chairman Ashok Pathirage and CPC Chairman Mohamed Uvais.
SriLankan has responded to President Wickremesinghe in writing while refraining from issuing a statement in this regard.
A senior official told The Island that the President issued instructions in this regard soon after the issuance of bonuses was brought to his notice. SriLankan Airlines and the CPC come under the purview of Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva and Kanchana Wijesekera, respectively.