By Marlon Dale Ferreira
A high-stakes transparency battle is set to unfold as Sri Lanka’s RTI Commission steps in to question delays in a sensitive aviation corruption probe. At the center lies an allegation involving public funds, regulatory oversight, and a controversial jet endorsement, raising serious concerns about accountability within key institutions. As the hearing approaches, the case could become a defining moment for the country’s right to information and anti-corruption framework.
The Right to Information (RTI) Commission of Sri Lanka has summoned both a senior airline captain and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over delays in responding to an information request linked to an ongoing investigation involving the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL).
The hearing has been scheduled for April 30, 2026, at 12:30 p.m., with both parties required to appear either in person or via video conferencing. The appellant has also been instructed to submit written representations at least seven days ahead of the hearing.
The matter originates from a complaint lodged by Captain Anil Jayasinghe, who alleged that a jet endorsement had been improperly issued to a former Director of Aircraft Operations at CAASL. According to the complaint, public funds were used in a manner that facilitated the individual’s employment with a private airline in Sri Lanka.
In response to the perceived inaction, Captain Jayasinghe filed a request under the Right to Information Act, No. 12 of 2016, seeking updates on the status of the investigation. The absence of a response within the stipulated timeframe led him to escalate the matter through an appeal.
The RTI Commission, in an official notice dated April 6, 2026, confirmed that the appeal has been registered under case number RTIC/Appeal/295/2026. The appeal challenges the response or lack thereof, provided by CIABOC’s designated officer to the information request submitted on November 24, 2025.
The Commission has further directed CIABOC, along with any relevant third parties, to present their objections and supporting documentation within the required timeframe.
The upcoming hearing is expected to serve as a significant test of Sri Lanka’s Right to Information framework, particularly in ensuring accountability and transparency within institutions tasked with investigating corruption involving senior officials in the aviation sector.
Courtesy: Ceylon Today
Editor’s Note: Next story – Coming up shortly
SriLankan Airlines’ Head of Flight Operations, Captain Patrick Fernando, has acknowledged a significant failure within his department, specifically involving pilot training instructors and examiners, that led to the public shouldering the cost of a Trainee Junior First Officer’s Airbus A320 Type Rating, amounting to Rs. 8.7 million in 2024.
Following an internal inquiry and the submission of a board paper, the then Board of Directors decided to write off the full training cost. The trainee was subsequently allowed to leave the airline after having to pay only the initial insurance amount required prior to entering the Cadet Pilot intake.
A comprehensive investigation by The Morning Telegraph has uncovered a detailed paper trail. Documents in its possession include the Board Paper, minutes of the Board of Directors’ meeting, the trainee’s full training file, internal emails from TRI/TREs to management highlighting concerns related to the incident, correspondence from the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority, and an official letter from SriLankan Airlines Flight Operations to the CAA confirming that the Trainee Junior First Officer had successfully completed the A320 Type Rating.
Also obtained is a copy of the endorsement on the trainee’s flying license, now held by the current Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, Captain Daminda Rambukwella.
