SriLankan Airlines flight attendant arrested for shoplifting in Japan

In an incident that caused significant international embarrassment in the history of SriLankan Airlines, a female cabin crew member belonging to SriLankan Airlines has been arrested and detained by Japanese police on charges of stealing items from the famous Aeon shopping complex near Narita International Airport in Japan.

While staying with other crew members at a hotel near Narita Airport, the flight attendant went to the said supermarket complex alone. The alleged theft was confirmed after reviewing security camera footage, prompting store employees to inform the police. Some information from Japan indicates that she stole items, including "onigiri," a popular rice snack in that country.

A report quoting a senior official at Katunayake Airport states that the arrested individual is a 23-year-old flight attendant residing in the Dehiwala area. Such an incident being reported, especially when flight crews receive a daily meal allowance of USD 95 to 100 in addition to hotel accommodation during overseas duty trips, is considered a serious blemish on Sri Lanka's national airline.

According to Japanese criminal law, the police in that country have the authority to detain and interrogate suspects for a maximum period of 21 days (up to 23 days according to some sources) during the investigation period. Japanese law operates on a strict basis where bail is generally not granted even for minor thefts during the investigation period, and diplomatic sources indicate that there is no room for external influence or personal connections.

In light of this situation, it is reported that several senior officials of SriLankan Airlines are engaged in strenuous efforts to secure her release through direct discussions with Japanese authorities. This intervention has led to strong internal opposition and criticism within the airline's staff. Specifically, employees accuse the involvement of a senior official from the flight operations division, who has previously faced controversial allegations concerning female crew members, of undermining corporate discipline and professional standards.

Considering the damage to the national airline's international reputation, trade union representatives emphasize that an independent investigation into such misconduct should be initiated immediately. However, neither SriLankan Airlines management nor the Sri Lankan Embassy in Tokyo has yet issued any official statement regarding this incident, and the flight attendant remains in Japanese legal custody.