Ranil calls for compensation over Airbus deal

Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that Sri Lanka must demand compensation from Airbus, over the Airbus- SriLankan bribery deal.

Speaking in Parliament today, Wickremesinghe said that Airbus was paying a thumping amount as compensation to the countries who are affected so Sri Lanka must also demand compensation due to the massive losses incurred by SriLankan Airlines.

Wickremesinghe speaking further noted that the new government should request for all information pertaining to the case from UK?s Serious Fraud Office and UK Export Finance who revealed details of the massive fraud.

Airbus reached a record 3.6 Billion Euro settlement with US, UK and French authorities last week following a 4 year investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption.

The statement of facts issued on 31 January 2020 as part of the Deferred Prosecution Agreement reached between Airbus and the prosecuting authorities, indicates that Airbus had agreed to pay out a sum of 16.84 Million US dollars to a company registered in Brunei under the wife of an executive at SriLankan Airlines. Furthermore, the statement reads that Airbus had paid out a sum of 2 Million US dollars of the agreed amount to the company.

?Between 1 July 2011 and 1 June 2015 Airbus SE failed to prevent persons associated with Airbus SE from bribing others concerned with the purchase of aircraft by SriLankan Airlines from Airbus, namely directors and/or employees of SriLankan Airlines, where the said bribery was intended to obtain or retain business or advantage in the conduct of business for Airbus SE,? the statement of facts noted. (Colombo Gazette)