Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka stated that the removal of Harsha Abeywickrama from the position of Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL) was part of necessary administrative structural changes within the company.

The Minister emphasized that social media reports suggesting Abeywickrama’s removal was linked to a dispute over a special permit for the President of the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, Venerable Banagala Upatissa Thero, are false.

According to a statement issued yesterday (30), the Ministry clarified that, acting on the Minister’s instructions, the former Chairman had issued an authorization letter with appropriate conditions following Ven. Upatissa Thero’s request. The Ministry confirmed that no conflict occurred between the Minister and the former Chairman regarding this matter, and the letter had no connection to Abeywickrama’s removal.

Minister Karunathilaka commented:
“Various discussions have emerged in society, but there is no connection between the incident and the permit issued to Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thero. There was no conflict between me, as the Minister, and the Chairman regarding this letter. When I made the request, there was an explanation from the Airport Authority’s side, which I accepted. However, I instructed them to issue an authorization letter in a manner that fulfilled the Ven. Thero’s requirement. The Authority acted accordingly, and that incident ended there.”

He added that the events occurred in the first week of January and that administrative changes were subsequently required. During discussions on January 21, he had indicated the need for a change in administration, which led to the decision to remove the AASL Chairman.