ByShamindra Ferdinando

Sri Lanka had not yet been able to convince Russia to resume Aeroflot flights and tourists from there to Sri Lanka suspended following the detention of SU 289 at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA ) in the afternoon of June 02, authoritative sources said. .

Sri Lanka, struggling with an unprecedented foreign exchange shortage, desperately needs tourists from a major destination like Russia, which previously accounted for a large share of inbound traffic. Responding to The Island After summoning Sri Lankan Ambassador to Moscow Janitha Abeywickrema Liyanage shortly after the incident at the BIA, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a stern warning about the incident.

Following the Russian warning, the then government moved to lift restrictions on the plane which was to be detained until June 16. The detained SU 289 was cleared to depart on 06 June. Former Public Security Minister Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera yesterday (18) told The Island that no prior investigation was needed to establish the truth.

Lawmaker Weerasekera said the government should update parliament on the progress of the investigation and the steps it intended to take as well as steps already taken to improve relations with Russia.

The retired navy chief of staff said authorities should investigate whether a court ruling in a case filed by Irish-based Celestial Aviation Trading Company Ltd. against Aeroflot had been manipulated by interested parties.

It turned out that hardly the High Court Judge, SMHSP Sethunge, of the High Court of Commerce of the Western Province, Barrister Aruna de Silva accompanied a fiscal officer of the same Court to the BIA at lightning speed to make the decision.

Silva’s attorney appeared for the plaintiff with Avindra Rodrigo, PC, (litigation) of FJ & G.de Saram, a leading colonial-era law firm. The law firm previously declined to comment on the matter. High Court Judge Sethunga has publicly stated that he did not order the BIA not to allow Aeroflot SU 289 to take off on the afternoon of June 02.

Advocate Dasun Nagasena, Coordinating Secretary to the Minister of Justice, Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, said yesterday (18) that the Ministry of Justice had recommended action against the attorney to Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC. Nagasena said the tax officer who served the Justice Department had been banned, pending further investigations. As for the lawyer, he would be dealt with on the advice of the Chief Justice, the official said. Responding to another question, the official said the Justice Department had not yet been briefed on the progress of the investigations.

Ports, Navigation and Aviation Secretary KDS Ruwanchandra said yesterday that ministry officials discussed on Wednesday (17) ways to resume Aeroflot flights with the relevant authorities, including the embassy from Russia. Ruwanchandra said they hope to reach consensus on this issue soon. The manager said so in response to questions from The Island.

The President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), Saliya Pieris, PC, said yesterday that he could only open an investigation on the basis of a formal complaint. He said so when asked by The Island if the BASL had opened an investigation into the lawyer’s conduct in this regard. The president’s attorney said that normally the BASL would not launch an investigation into a matter that the CJ had investigated.

At the time of the BIA incident, Professor GL Peiris was the minister responsible for foreign affairs. Since the change of government, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has sworn in Ali Sabry, PC, as the new foreign minister.

Russia pointed out that action had been taken against SU 289 despite an assurance given by Sri Lanka of scheduled flights to Colombo.Sri Lankan Airlines suspended flights to Moscow at the end of March following the imposition of what the company air called operational restrictions following the war between Russia and Ukraine.