Aeroflot affair: PNF demands explanation, action against fiscal officer, lawyer

By Shamindra Ferdinando

In spite of the release of the detained Aeroflot flight on June 06, the government is yet to initiate a proper inquiry into the high profile incident that prompted an angry reaction from Russia, Dr. Wasantha Bandara, Secretary of the Patriotic National Front (PNF) said yesterday.

Sri Lanka detained the flight on June 02 afternoon as it was preparing to take off with 191 passengers and a crew of 13.

Dr. Bandara said that the government seemed to be of the view that the issue had been resolved and no further action was required. Dr. Bandara told The Island that the government owed an explanation regarding the action taken in respect of the still unnamed fiscal officer of the Commercial High Court of the Western Province and Attorney-at-Law Anura de Silva who appeared for the plaintiff Celestial Aviation Ireland.

Dr. Bandara said that the PNF recently requested President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to launch an investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to the detention of the aircraft. The PNF, in a letter addressed to the President, has requested (1) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa apologise to Russian President Vladimir Putin (2) appoint an inquiry team under a retired judge to determine whether a deliberate attempt was made to undermine Sri Lankan state (3) arrest the court officer attached to the Justice Ministry who had been interdicted in connection with the incident to pave the way for an investigation by the CID (4) appoint a three member committee comprising Secretaries to Ministries to inquire into the conduct of three senior Airport and Aviation officials who wrongly interpreted the relevant court order (5) give an assurance that Sri Lanka would compensate Aeroflot and (6) formulate an appropriate mechanism to handle similar situations in the future.

Dr. Bandara questioned the validity of the Bar Association’s stand that it couldn’t initiate an inquiry into the lawyer’s conduct unless it received a complaint. The civil society activist said that Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, should inquire into the matter as the Justice Ministry, having interdicted the court official recommended that action be taken against the lawyer concerned.

Referring to The Island reportage of the incident, Dr. Bandara pointed out that FJ & G de Saram, leading law firm from the colonial times that appeared for the plaintiff has declined to comment on the issue at hand. Avindra Rodrigo, PC, who appeared for the plaintiff, too, hadn’t been available for comment, Dr. Bandara said, the government, the BASL and other interested parties couldn’t turn a blind eye to the Aeroflot affair.

Those who preached political parties of transparency and accountability, too, should be equally responsible for their actions, Dr. Bandara said. The disruption of regular Aeroflot flights against the backdrop of Sri Lankan Airlines suspending its flights has denied Russian tourists an opportunity to visit Sri Lanka, at a time the country badly needs tourist traffic.

Dr. Bandara said that the Rajapaksa administration hadn’t been interested at all in improving and enhancing relations with Russia, though Moscow constantly supported Sri Lanka. The PNF official cited the dismissal of the Russian offer to upgrade Sri Lanka’s only refinery at Sapugaskanda during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term as a case in point. Dr. Bandara alleged that the government rejected the Russian offer after a group of experts carried out a detailed study and expressed their readiness to undertake the project.