Wrong bank transfer costs SriLankan Airlines millions

A financial irregularity exceeding Rs. 85 million occurred during a payment process at SriLankan Airlines, according to Member of Parliament Dayasiri Jayasekara.

The Chennai branch mistakenly routed a monthly payment, due in February 2026 to a Dubai sales agency, to the wrong bank, the MP stated.

While the legitimate account sits with Emirates NBD PJSC Bank, the Chennai branch of SriLankan Airlines accidentally credited the funds to an account at the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank.

The mishap involved a sum of 974,050 Dirhams, which equates to over Rs. 85 million.

The inability to recover these funds created a major crisis for the airline, the MP added.