Civil Aviation pays for food served during Basil’s arrival at BIA following Daily Mirror exposure

The Civil Aviation Authority has paid a bill of Rs.60,000 to Sri Lankan Airlines Catering Services for the refreshments served at the Gold Route Service during the arrival of former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa last Sunday, after the Daily Mirror exposed that Basil had not paid for the food or the VIP lounge service.

The Daily Mirror learns that following the article titled, 'No payment made by Basil to use VIP arrival lounge at BIA' published on Nov.22, 2022, the Civil Aviation Authority had on Thursday settled a payment of Rs.60,000 for the food served to the guests during Basil's arrival.

This payment was made for rolls, sandwiches, patties and tea served to over 100 people, mostly from the SLPP party, who had flocked inside the Gold route service to greet Basil upon his arrival from the USA.

With Basil neither being a minister nor a parliamentarian, he had no right to use the VIP lounge of the BIA and also gather so many guests, most of whom were parliamentarians, officials from the Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya of Sri Lankan Airlines had told Daily Mirror earlier this week. 

Videos which emerged from the event showed several SLPP MPs and guests enjoying the food and greeting Basil in a line to welcome him back into the country.

Basil Rajapaksa left for the United States in September after members from the Rajapaksa family were ousted out of office mid this year and he resigned from his parliamentary seat in June.