In an effort to get the country’s national carrier, SriLankan out of it’s current financial catastrophe, the government is looking at the possibility of tying up with a foreign airline in an effort to help better manage SriLankan airlines and convert it into a profit making venture.
State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe
State Minister of International Trade Sujeewa Senasinghe said that drastic measures were necessary to safeguard the future of the country, and to ensure that the airline will not continue to make losses.
“SriLankan is a huge problem for us, so we are looking at collaborating with a foreign carrier, to convert the loss making carrier into a profit making enterprise,” Senasinghe said.
The minister said that the national carrier was a profit making enterprise till 2008 when it was under the Emirates management, until former President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his own reasons worked in a manner which led to Emirates pulling out of the agreement with SriLankan, after which the airline took a nosedive which has led to the current crisis.
Meanwhile, Minister of Special Assignments, Dr. Sarath Amunugama categorized SriLankan airlines as one of the top 10 worst-managed state enterprises in the world. He made this statement at a seminar held on Thursday.
In March, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament that SriLankan airlines had run into a huge debt amounting to US $ 1 billion and within six weeks the government will decide the future course of action to address the issue facing the national carrier. (By Munza Mushtaq © Colombo Telegraph)
RR / April 3, 2016
Yes, it is the hunting season for the Yahapalana ministers! It won’t last too long; take an example from Minister John Amaratunga who does not waste even a second! However, please make every effort not to be hospitalized!!!
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Bulatheatingpeter / April 3, 2016
Donkey nation should be made clear even if we work with other airlines means not that we have sold out the airline to someone. Rajaakshe for his political thirsty, sowed all kind of germs to attack his previous regime which instead brought billions of profit being joined with Emirates. Even swiss and other airlines in Europe work with several other airlines otherwise, they have to go bankrupt. Lanken media men should help the current govt not painting the picture in favours of stupid folks that only think that we have to protect our airlines. No matter the airline brings anything, to keep the name under the country is what they expect.
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Saman / April 3, 2016
Any foreign airline would take this company over only under thwir own terms. Most certainly one of them bwing reducing the retirement age. Even qatar airways is reported to have made such sentiments known.
What i was referring to above is a senior manager related to govt travel (basically doing no job) drawing a massive 6 figure salary hs been extended on employment beyind his retirement age
The logic of this ridiculous board is non existant. Manoj Gunawardena sent to London for no reason other than to enable him to qualify for his own permanent residency while paying him millions for allowances and salary.
The PM needs to involve himself in this matter a d take a propoer decision. Clearly the board is more concerned on employing national sports candidates at a job rather than make the airline efficient.
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Nicholas Kudraj / April 3, 2016
The current bunch of ministers and deputies appear to have no idea of what their role is in our democracy.
These guys are no not ministers but administrators.
I am under the impression that ministers are for setting national policies in their portfolios. They also follow up on policy and report to cabinet on their initiatives.
The matters in this news report are not ministerial subjects.
They belong to the board of directors of Sri Lankan Airways.
At the beginning of the Yahapalana Yugayaya, a couple of millions was spent on corruption investigation in the airline.
The board of directors have failed to implement recommendations in that report.
The board of directors also appear to have no idea of how to proceed with managing the airline and dealing with its extreme debt burden.
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AM / April 3, 2016
I am a businessman in a foreign country.If I were the owner of a this kind of business I would have given it free with all the debts( if some party is willing )with out getting into any partnerships.What is the point of keeping a loss making business which has been a real burden to tax payers or rather shut it down.MR was the worst guy when it came to good management.
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