By: Staff Writer
October 22, Colombo (LNW): SriLankan Airlines has rejected claims that hackers infiltrated and took control of its information technology systems, but parliamentary disclosures by opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara have intensified scrutiny of the national carrier’s cybersecurity preparedness, the protection of sensitive operational information and the government’s oversight of critical aviation infrastructure.
In a statement, the airline said reports and public statements alleging that its systems had been hacked or compromised originated from a cyber-related claim published externally on June 29, 2026. Following the disclosure, it said it immediately initiated investigations, technical assessments and precautionary measures to establish whether its digital infrastructure had been breached.
According to the airline, these inquiries did not establish unauthorised access to its internal IT environment or operational systems, compromise of information assets, unauthorised data extraction or disruption to services. Email facilities and other services continued operating without interruption, it said.
The airline also categorically denied receiving any ransom demand in Bitcoin, US dollars or another form, and rejected claims that negotiations had taken place with the alleged attackers.
However, statements made in Parliament by Jayasekara have placed a competing account before the public. He disclosed that a ransomware group identifying itself as BlackNet, or BLACKNET-00, had allegedly infiltrated the carrier’s digital systems and demanded US$50,000 in Bitcoin, equivalent to more than Rs.15 million.
The attackers reportedly circulated videos through Telegram channels and dark web platforms claiming to demonstrate administrative access to the airline’s systems. Information attributed to their online manifesto allegedly referred to flight operations, scheduling, flight mapping, navigational routing software, internal network diagrams, and employee records and aircraft maintenance documentation.
These claims have not been independently established in the information provided, and the airline’s denial must be considered alongside the parliamentary allegations. Neither the publication of alleged hacker material nor the company’s assurance, by itself, resolves the central question of whether unauthorised access occurred.
The critical issue is whether the airline’s investigations were sufficiently comprehensive and independent to identify any intrusion, establish its scope and verify that no sensitive information was extracted. The public also needs clarity on whether the assessments included external forensic expertise and whether the findings can withstand independent scrutiny.
The absence of service interruptions would not necessarily prove that no breach occurred. Cyber intrusions can involve the theft of credentials or confidential documents without immediately affecting flight schedules, email facilities or passenger services.
Equally, allegations of a breach must not be treated as proof that flight safety was compromised. That determination requires technical evidence and a clear assessment of whether operational technology or safety-related systems were affected.
The government now faces a difficult accountability test. SriLankan Airlines is a strategic national institution whose digital security has implications extending beyond corporate reputation to passenger confidence, commercial relationships and national aviation resilience.
An independent forensic examination, followed by a factual report to Parliament, would help reconcile the airline’s denial with Jayasekara’s disclosures. Investigators should establish whether access occurred, whether data left the network, and whether any vulnerabilities remain.
Until those questions are answered transparently, categorical assurances and parliamentary allegations will continue to compete, leaving passengers and the public without a definitive account of what happened.
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