Patali Champika Ranawaka, the leader of the United Republican Front and former minister, has strongly denied accusations that he used government funds to charter Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) aircraft for personal or official use during his tenure as a government minister. The controversy arose after a media report revealed that 15 former ministers, including Ranawaka, had used SLAF aircraft for various travel needs between 2019 and 2020.
The report, which was based on information obtained from the Sri Lanka Air Force Headquarters under the Right to Information Act, revealed that a total of 66 flights had been reserved for these former ministers, with three of those flights allegedly booked for Ranawaka. The report suggested that the government had funded the majority of these flights.
In a press release issued in response to the media coverage, Ranawaka categorically rejected the claims, stating that he never personally requested or used SLAF aircraft for his own travel during his time as a minister. He clarified that on three separate occasions, he traveled on SLAF aircraft, but only when accompanied by former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya for state-related functions.
Ranawaka emphasized that these flights were in the context of official government duties and not personal convenience. He also denounced the reports as defamatory, claiming that they misrepresented the facts. “The suggestion that public funds were used for personal travel is completely misleading,” Ranawaka said.
Furthermore, Ranawaka stated that if any irregularities had taken place in the use of government funds, it was the responsibility of the government to investigate the matter thoroughly. He also called for greater transparency and accountability in the handling of public resources.
To ensure transparency, Ranawaka urged that the performance records of the ministries and institutions he oversaw during his tenure be published under the Right to Information Act. He believes this will allow the public to better understand how the ministries were managed and ensure that his actions were in line with public expectations for responsible governance.
The issue of government officials using state resources for personal benefits has been a sensitive topic in Sri Lanka, with previous allegations of misuse of government assets by politicians and public figures. Ranawaka’s call for transparency and accountability comes at a time when public trust in government institutions is critical, and such accusations are closely scrutinized by both the public and the media.
