Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Dr. R. H. S. Samarathunga will appear before the Presidential Commission inquiring into allegations of large scale fraud and malpractices at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering Ltd and Mihin Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., tomorrow, October 22.
Dr. Samaratunga is the top official of the Ministry of Finance, the statutory caretaker of the loss making national carrier.
After the takeover of SriLankan Airlines from the Emirates by the Government in 2008, the Treasury had been pumping billions of rupees to ensure the existence of Sri Lankan and its sister airline Mihin Lanka.
The commission since it began sittings on June 4 this year, has called on highly placed officials including the Registrar of Companies, who gave evidence regarding the incorporation of Mihin Lanka, whose evidence revealed a series of malpractices and failures to abide by the due process of the law. The testimony of the witness, Dr. Samaratunga would be crucial in future investigations and inquiries at the Commission, the Sunday Observer reliably learns.