SriLankan Airlines cleared of wrongdoing in UAE payment cyber fraud

SriLankan Airlines cleared of wrongdoing in a UAE payment cyber fraud, according to the Deputy Minister of Ports and Aviation Janitha Kodituwakku. Speaking June 29, Kodituwakku said investigations found the funds had been successfully remitted and that the cyber attack occurred on the recipient’s side. The airline had earlier been informed by a Dubai-based service provider that it did not receive a payment of AED 974,000. SriLankan said the provider’s email account was compromised by a third party, which altered the bank account details and supplied additional documentary proof through official communication channels, leading the airline to believe it was paying the legitimate recipient. After the deputy minister’s review, the payment was marked as cleared because the breach was attributed to the service provider’s end.