A former Air Force officer who served as the head of Blue Skies Aviation, has been arrested by the Negombo Police and remanded.
The arrest of Don Asitha Manage followed the submission of information to court regarding allegations that Rs. 10.4 million had been obtained through the preparation of fraudulent documents.
A complaint had been lodged with the police alleging that the said money had been fraudulently withdrawn from an account maintained at the Negombo branch of Sampath Bank.
Police investigations have revealed the cheque bore a forged signature resembling that of Melanie Fernando, the company’s principal investor and legal owner.
The case has been filed before the Negombo magistrate’s court under case number P/21583/26.
The company, which operates flights with its operations centred around Ratmalana Airport, had engaged Manage in operational activities within the first six months of its establishment.
Subsequently, the investor had transferred a shareholding in the company to him.
However, disputes had emerged between the parties over several alleged serious financial irregularities within the company’s financial management.
In addition to the incident involving the withdrawal of funds from a local bank account, investigations are also underway into four other alleged financial irregularities involving amounts exceeding one million US dollars.
Sudantha Bandara appeared for the suspect Asitha Manage and Radha Kuruwitabandara with Lihini Fernando appeared for the aggrieved party.
