Sri Lanka plans criminal probe into Airbus deal

Colombo

SRI LANKA'S new government has announced a criminal investigation into the US$2.3 billion purchase of 10 Airbus aircraft for the island's loss-making national carrier under the former government.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickreme-singhe's office said an independent board of inquiry found gross violations of financial regulations and procurement procedures in state-owned Sri Lankan Airlines's deal, and said they warranted criminal prosecutions against former executives.

The panel carrying out the probe handed a dossier to Mr Wickremesinghe on Thursday and officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the government had acce…