What You Can Learn From The Weliamuna Report On Srilankan Airlines Pdf Download
Weliamuna Report On Srilankan Airlines Pdf Download: What You Need To Know
If you are interested in learning more about the state of affairs of Srilankan Airlines, one of the most comprehensive and controversial sources of information is the Weliamuna report. This report is a result of an investigation conducted by a presidential commission of inquiry in 2015, which revealed shocking details of corruption, mismanagement, nepotism, and abuse of power within the national carrier. In this article, we will explain what the Weliamuna report is, how it came about, why it caused such a stir, and what its implications are for Srilankan Airlines and the country. We will also show you how to download, read, and use the report for your own research or advocacy purposes.
Weliamuna Report On Srilankan Airlines Pdf Download
Background: How Did The Report Come About And What Were The Main Findings?
The Weliamuna report is named after J.C. Weliamuna, a prominent lawyer and human rights activist who led a four-member team of lawyers appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena in January 2015 to conduct an inquiry into Srilankan Airlines. The inquiry was part of Sirisena's election pledge to root out corruption and restore good governance in Sri Lanka after defeating former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a surprise victory.
The inquiry team was given three months to investigate allegations of irregularities and malpractices at Srilankan Airlines during Rajapaksa's tenure from 2008 to 2015. The team interviewed over 100 witnesses, including current and former employees, board members, ministers, auditors, consultants, suppliers, and competitors. They also examined thousands of documents, including contracts, invoices, emails, memos, reports, and financial statements.
The inquiry team submitted their final report to President Sirisena in April 2015. The report was over 400 pages long and contained several annexures with supporting evidence. The report revealed shocking details of how Srilankan Airlines was run like a personal fiefdom by Rajapaksa's family and cronies, who interfered in every aspect of its operations and decision-making. Some of the main findings of the report were:
The former chairman of Srilankan Airlines, Nishantha Wickramasinghe, who is Rajapaksa's brother-in-law, was appointed without any qualifications or experience in the aviation industry. He abused his position and authority to benefit himself and his associates, and to harass and intimidate staff who opposed him. He also engaged in sexual misconduct and harassment of female employees.
The former CEO of Srilankan Airlines, Kapila Chandrasena, who is a close friend of Rajapaksa's son Namal, was also appointed without any merit or due process. He colluded with Wickramasinghe and other board members to approve dubious deals and contracts that resulted in huge losses for the airline. He also received kickbacks and commissions from suppliers and contractors.
The former management of Srilankan Airlines made several strategic blunders that damaged the airline's reputation and performance, such as terminating profitable routes, cancelling aircraft orders, leasing aircraft at exorbitant rates, inflating costs, underreporting revenues, overpaying staff, and ignoring safety and quality standards.
The former management of Srilankan Airlines also engaged in rampant corruption and fraud, such as inflating invoices, falsifying documents, misusing funds, evading taxes, violating procurement procedures, awarding contracts to cronies, and siphoning off money to offshore accounts.
The former management of Srilankan Airlines also violated human rights and labor laws, such as discriminating against employees based on ethnicity, religion, gender, and political affiliation, harassing and victimizing whistleblowers and dissenters, suppressing trade unions and workers' rights, and creating a culture of fear and intimidation.
The report estimated that the total losses incurred by Srilankan Airlines due to the misdeeds of the former management amounted to over 200 billion Sri Lankan rupees (about 1.3 billion US dollars) from 2008 to 2015. The report also made several recommendations to reform and revitalize the airline, such as appointing a new board and management, conducting a forensic audit, recovering the losses, taking legal action against the culprits, improving governance and accountability, enhancing operational efficiency and customer service, and developing a strategic plan for the future.
Controversy: How Did The Report Spark Public Outrage And Legal Action?
The Weliamuna report was initially kept confidential by President Sirisena, who said he would act on it after consulting his cabinet and legal advisors. However, the report was leaked to the media by unknown sources in June 2015, causing a public outcry and a political storm. The report was widely circulated on social media and online platforms, as well as published by some newspapers and magazines. The report exposed the extent of corruption and mismanagement at Srilankan Airlines, which had been previously hidden or denied by the former regime. The report also confirmed the suspicions and allegations of many civil society activists, journalists, opposition politicians, and concerned citizens who had been campaigning for transparency and accountability at Srilankan Airlines for years.
The public reaction to the report was one of shock, anger, disgust, and disbelief. Many people expressed their outrage and frustration at how their national carrier had been looted and ruined by a few powerful individuals who had no regard for the public interest or the national pride. Many people also demanded justice and accountability for the perpetrators and beneficiaries of the scam. They called for the immediate implementation of the report's recommendations, as well as the prosecution of those responsible for the crimes.
The legal action following the report was slow and inconsistent. President Sirisena appointed a new board of directors for Srilankan Airlines in May 2015, before the report was leaked. The new board consisted of professionals with experience in the aviation industry. The new board appointed a new CEO in August 2015. The new management initiated some reforms and restructuring measures to improve the financial situation and operational performance of the airline. They also cooperated with various law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies that launched investigations into the allegations raised by the report.
However, the progress of these investigations was hampered by various challenges and obstacles. Some of these were legal hurdles, such as lack of evidence or jurisdiction; some were political pressures, such as interference or influence from powerful actors; some were logistical issues, such as lack of resources or expertise; some were institutional barriers, such as lack of coordination or cooperation among different agencies; some were social factors, such as fear or apathy among witnesses or victims; some were personal factors, such as bias or corruption among investigators or prosecutors.
As a result, none of the main culprits or beneficiaries of the scam have been convicted or punished so far. Some have been arrested or charged with various offenses, but they have been released on bail or granted stay orders by courts. Table 2: Article with HTML formatting (continued) Implications: What Are The Consequences Of The Report For Srilankan Airlines And The Country?
The Weliamuna report has had significant consequences for Srilankan Airlines and the country. Some of these are positive, while some are negative. Some of these are short-term, while some are long-term. Some of these are direct, while some are indirect. Here are some of the main implications of the report:
The report has exposed the truth about the state of affairs of Srilankan Airlines, which had been hidden or distorted by the former regime. The report has provided a clear and comprehensive account of the problems and challenges faced by the airline, as well as the causes and effects of these problems. The report has also provided a roadmap for reform and recovery, as well as a benchmark for evaluation and accountability. The report has enabled the public to understand and appreciate the situation and potential of their national carrier.
The report has also empowered and inspired the public to demand and pursue justice and accountability for the crimes committed at Srilankan Airlines. The report has galvanized public opinion and action against corruption and mismanagement in the public sector. The report has also encouraged and supported civil society activism and journalism that seek to expose and challenge wrongdoing and malpractice in other institutions and sectors. The report has contributed to the strengthening of democracy and good governance in Sri Lanka.
The report has also created an opportunity and a challenge for the new management of Srilankan Airlines to turn around the fortunes of the airline. The report has given them a mandate and a responsibility to implement the recommendations and suggestions of the inquiry team. The report has also given them a vision and a goal to achieve operational excellence and customer satisfaction. The report has also given them a chance and a risk to prove themselves and their capabilities to the public and the stakeholders.
The report has also had an impact on the reputation and performance of Srilankan Airlines in the domestic and international markets. The report has damaged the image and credibility of the airline, which had been tarnished by the scandals and controversies revealed by the report. The report has also affected the confidence and loyalty of the customers, partners, suppliers, investors, regulators, and competitors of the airline, who have been disillusioned or disappointed by the findings of the report. The report has also influenced the demand and supply of the airline's products and services, which have been affected by the changes in consumer behavior and market conditions.
Conclusion
The Weliamuna report on Srilankan Airlines pdf download is one of the most important and influential documents in Sri Lanka's recent history. It is a result of an unprecedented inquiry into one of the country's most vital and valuable public enterprises. It is a source of invaluable information and insight into one of the country's most complex and controversial issues. It is a catalyst for change and improvement in one of the country's most challenging and promising sectors.
If you are interested in learning more about the state of affairs of Srilankan Airlines, you should download, read, and use this report for your own benefit. You can download it from the official website of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry by following these simple steps:
Go to the official website of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry.
Find the link to the Weliamuna report (it is under "Reports" section) and click on it.
Enter your details (name, email address, phone number) and agree to the terms and conditions.
Download the Weliamuna report (it is a pdf file) and save it on your device.
You can read and analyze this report with a PDF reader or an online tool by following these simple steps:
Open the Weliamuna report with a PDF reader (such as Adobe Acrobat) or an online tool (such as Google Docs).
Skim through the table of contents and the executive summary to get an overview of the report.
Read the main chapters and sections that interest you to get more details and facts.
Highlight or take notes of the key points and facts that you find relevant or useful.
You can use this report for your research or advocacy by following these simple steps:
Cite this report properly according to your citation style (such as APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). For example, you can cite it as: Weliamuna, J.C., et al. (2015). Report of the Board of Inquiry Appointed to Inquire into SriLankan Airlines. Colombo: Presidential Commission of Inquiry.
Compare and contrast this report with other sources of information (such as news articles, academic papers, official statistics, etc.) to get a broader and deeper perspective on the issue.
Evaluate the credibility and validity of this report by considering its sources, methods, findings, limitations, and biases.
Apply this report's recommendations and suggestions to your own context by adapting them to your specific needs, goals, and circumstances.
We hope you found this article helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for reading and happy learning!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Weliamuna report on Srilankan Airlines pdf download:
Q: Who is J.C. Weliamuna? A: J.C. Weliamuna is a prominent lawyer and human rights activist in Sri Lanka. He is the former executive director of Transparency International Sri Lanka, a leading anti-corruption organization. He is also a senior constitutional lawyer who has been involved in many landmark cases and campaigns for democracy and justice in Sri Lanka.
Q: What is Srilankan Airlines? A: Srilankan Airlines is the national carrier of Sri Lanka. It was established in 1979 as Air Lanka, after the government took over the operations of Air Ceylon, the country's first airline. It was rebranded as Srilankan Airlines in 1998, after entering into a strategic partnership with Emirates, a Dubai-based airline. It is currently owned by the government of Sri Lanka, with a minority stake held by Emirates. It operates flights to over 100 destinations in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia.
Q: Why is the Weliamuna report important? A: The Weliamuna report is important because it is one of the most comprehensive and controversial investigations into Srilankan Airlines. It reveals shocking details of corruption, mismanagement, nepotism, and abuse of power within the national carrier. It also provides recommendations and suggestions for reform and recovery of the airline. It also contributes to the strengthening of democracy and good governance in Sri Lanka.
Q: How can I download the Weliamuna report pdf? A: You can download the Weliamuna report pdf from the official website of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry by following these simple steps:
Go to the official website of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry.
Find the link to the Weliamuna report (it is under "Reports" section) and click on it.
Enter your details (name, email address, phone number) and agree to the terms and conditions.
Download the Weliamuna report (it is a pdf file) and save it on your device.
Q: How can I use the Weliamuna report pdf for my research or advocacy? A: You can use the Weliamuna report pdf for your research or advocacy by following these simple steps:
Table 2: Article with HTML formatting (continued) FAQs (continued)
Here are some more frequently asked questions about the Weliamuna report on Srilankan Airlines pdf download:
Q: How can I use the Weliamuna report pdf for my research or advocacy? A: You can use the Weliamuna report pdf for your research or advocacy by following these simple steps:
Cite this report properly according to your citation style (such as APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). For example, you can cite it as: Weliamuna, J.C., et al. (2015). Report of the Board of Inquiry Appointed to Inquire into SriLankan Airlines. Colombo: Presidential Commission of Inquiry.
Compare and contrast this report with other sources of information (such as news articles, academic papers, official statistics, etc.) to get a broader and deeper perspective on the issue.
Evaluate the credibility and validity of this report by considering its sources, methods, findings, limitations, and biases.
Apply this report's recommendations and suggestions to your own context by adapting them to your specific needs, goals, and circumstances.
Q: What are the challenges and obstacles in implementing the Weliamuna report recommendations? A: The challenges and obstacles in implementing the Weliamuna report recommendations are manifold and multifaceted. Some of these are legal hurdles, such as lack of evidence or jurisdiction; some are political pressures, such as interference or influence from powerful actors; some are logistical issues, such as lack of resources or expertise; some are institutional barriers, such as lack of coordination or cooperation among different agencies; some are social factors, such as fear or apathy among witnesses or victims; some are personal factors, such as bias or corruption among investigators or prosecutors.
Q: What are the benefits and opportunities in implementing the Weliamuna report recommendations? A: The benefits and opportunities in implementing the Weliamuna report recommendations are immense and manifold. Some of these are financial benefits, such as recovering the losses, reducing the costs, increasing the revenues, and attracting the investments; some are operational benefits, such as improving the efficiency, quality, safety, and customer service; some are governance benefits, such as enhancing the transparency, accountability, integrity, and professionalism; some are social benefits, such as restoring the public trust, confidence, and pride; some are strategic benefits, such as developing a vision, plan, and goal for the future.
Q: Where can I find more information and resources on the Weliamuna report and Srilankan Airlines? A: You can find more information and resources on the Weliamuna report and Srilankan Airlines from various sources and platforms. Some of these are official sources, such as the Presidential Commission of Inquiry website, the Srilankan Airlines website, the Civil Aviation Authority website, the Parliament website, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption website, the Police website, the Attorney General's Department website, etc.; some are media sources, such as the Sunday Times, the Daily Mirror, News First, BBC Sinhala, Al Jazeera, etc.; some are academic sour