In a move to reduce losses that could be incurred further due to the corrupt management of the Sri Lankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka, the government has made a decision to merge the two airlines.
Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake reading the 2015 interim budget proposal to the parliament today said during the past five years alone, the losses incurred by SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka is Rs. 100 billion and Rs. 15 billion.
Moreover, accounting the non-payment of due taxes by CSN that was run by the Rajapaksas, a onetime tax of Rs. One billion was imposed on the television channel.
Meanwhile, moving beyond the promise in the 100-day program of reducing the cost of 10 essential commodities, the government today reduced taxes imposed on 13 essential commodities.
Casinos were instructed to pay a onetime tax of Rs. One billion by April 2015.
Amarasiri / January 29, 2015
Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake
Very Good. Thry have to be economically sustainable.
Take Good business decisions.
It has to pay. Do not expect the people o skip a meal and maintain these enterprises, so that it is advantageous to a selected few including the politicians.
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Javi. / January 29, 2015
Long joining the short haul does not make sense but Loss of the Long.
Guess what// That is exactly what Richard Branson did by stealth to Sabina Air Belgium- loss of the long like a sandwich for tubular bells.
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Rajash / January 30, 2015
Reading between the lines, what the finance minister is saying is he is ditching Mihin Airlines
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Javi. / January 30, 2015
Hi mate,
He must come out with his concept- the total structure plan and not keep it in cloud nine. Its only then that action can run smoothly.
This is how Anglo indian Tony Fernandez student finance man of Richard Branson made it big in a very non conducive environment for non muslims.
Tazi Vitachi the journalist assisted Harry J to be what he made of himself.
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Javi. / January 30, 2015
BTW why did Tony (Goa +Creole mauratius/madagascar) leave his land of birth KL and go to Indonesia where those Malays came 700 years ago. He left a malay CEO so that all matters stay cool. But you see how malay air defence let him down and the same defence did not utter a word on the other & US backed them too untill a UK private company sold the radar findings above Diego Garcia! there you go.
Space – if not for 9/11 we would not need streets all cars would be in 3D space running with water cheers.
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Azmi / February 1, 2015
Javi:
Your wealth of knowledge across all matters simply amazes me. And you have that magical writing style that’s so cryptic yet imbued with an ample dollop of sarcasm. Keep it up dude. Love to read your pieces though sometimes it keeps my mind working on overdrive trying to fathom what was really meant to be conveyed.
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Magi Uruk / February 3, 2015
Then, you’re a bugaboo.
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Samuel Jayaweera / January 30, 2015
My kind reuqest authorities to prove those who have looted the state assets and get the funds back from them to cover the billions that they have made during the last 5 years. These they could do in the form of confesticating the assets that MR s brother in law has gathered, wimal weerawanse or other ministers have gathered.. if not as cash but as their properties, these assets have been scattered. Investigations will reveal how deep they have been fallen. Not anyone of this country will become upset if authorities would take every due action against all looters.
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Shantha / January 29, 2015
The national carrier and the Mahinda ego carrier airlines to merge? What a waste of our money. The fake king thought he would build airports and have planes named after him, and yet it simply shows bad judgement, and nothing you build on your ego, and self importance, is meant to be strong and solid. Of course, the fake royal family must have minted millions in the process, but in the end it is the people of Sri Lanka who are the biggest losers. Let us not forget how Sri Lankan airlines was misused by this family on jaunts to bring back special dogs, and how the entire plan was taken to cart the Rajapaksa side kicks and golayas on international flights to the country of their choosing, to shop, wine, and dine, to their hearts content. They have fleeced this country, and we are in debt to China, and hope the cheats never find a single moment of peace in their miserable lives.
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whywhy / January 29, 2015
There are hundreds of super rich people in business
in Srilanka and more are being added thanks to JRJ
economic policy.The very disgusting,truly disgusting
fact is that some politicians who don’t want to be
second to these super rich,try to match them in order
to be superior to them in spending,even somebody else’s
money.And the MARA family and the regime unbelievably
robbed the country for this luxury using and encouraging
the racist mindset among the majority.They were in
business rather than in politics.Their hands reached
everywhere,no limits.Almost all chiefs of all departments
especially the police,were spending their time hunting
for money by hook or crook.A proper investigation will
disclose more than 80% of them are culprits.The story is
endless but all should stop.
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Navin / January 29, 2015
The Sinhala Buddhist population love being told that Tamils Muslims Malays Burghers Christians Catholics are bad people. SWRD Bandaranaike converted from Christianity to Buddhism (not the Buddhism preached by Lord Buddha, but the idol worship variety) for the purpose of taking advantage of this infatuation. He was followed by hundreds of other Catholics and Christians.
As a corollary we have the politicians on the “minority” side telling their people how bad the Sinhala Buddhists are.
And why do the politicians engage in this anti national dastardly ruinous past time? TO MAKE MONEY, which reached its zenith during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure.
In the 1940’s all the Sri Lankans pooled their resources and were doing their best to secure independence. And suddenly after that was achieved 30 percent of them were considered to the enemies of the State. One million of them were immediately deprived of their citizenship. Restrictions and impediments on the minorities have been progressively increased on the minorities during the following 66 years.
Even today the same mind set continues. Let us hope that the defeat of the Medamulana gang is an indication that the percentage of “ardent patriots” is decreasing.
Even then still there is a long way to go. Perhaps fifty years or more.
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Sahan / January 30, 2015
Also the name Mihin (Mahinda) Lanka, need to be change to a national name, with continues “Sri Lanka” or something like that.
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crazyoldmansl / January 29, 2015
Now cut a management deal with Virgin Airlines?
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Javi. / January 29, 2015
and say Everyone can Fly and Play football QQQ, QQ, QQQ
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Jagath Fernando / January 29, 2015
Mihin should be closed down. We don’t require a budget airline at this stage.
Sri Lankan should be a regional airline.
We need to understand that we cannot compete with Etihad, Qatar, Emirates and Singapore Airlines in the Lon haul sectors.
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Peace Lover / January 29, 2015
How about renaming Srilankan airlines as ‘Sumana airways’ in honour of our jester K A Sumanasekera !
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oma yang / January 29, 2015
Nearly Choked on my tea! ….lol
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Amarasiri / January 29, 2015
Peace Lover
“Sumana airways’ ???
Let us call it Hansa Airlines or Swan Airlines or Lanka Hansa Airlines. Lufthansa?, Air Hansa?
Sri Lankan Swan Airlines, and make the Swan the Logo of the Airline.
So, the Swan will become a recognized symbol.
This way All the Medamulana Clan, their Shills and cronies will be forced to fly under the Swan, Hansa, Symbol.
Sweet Revenge.
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Palmsquirrell / January 30, 2015
I liked the old name Air Lanka.
Next to rename :
Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre in Colombo
Mahinda Rajapaksa Port
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport.
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Jinasena Katriarachchi / February 3, 2015
And the Sumana Airways’ seasonal greetings could read like “Wish all our Flying Punters Sumana Saman Devi Pihitay”.
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VP / January 29, 2015
What about getting Sir Peter Hill (who was unceremoniously fired for not following MR’s orders)back?
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justice / January 29, 2015
VP,
Your suggestion is best. If Hill is unavailable, a manager from among international applicants to an advertisement would be best – one who is qualified and with years of experience, like him.
If another ignorant stooge is appointed, it will be the end of the airline.
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Lucky / January 30, 2015
Peter Hill ? you must be joking.Those who have worked with him know very well of his capabilities.He is good as long as he has a Boss like Tim Clark to take orders from.On his own he is only good at patronizing Bars or perhaps even running them
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Javi. / January 31, 2015
new broom sweeps clean but not all mules are sterile.
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Lanka Watch / January 29, 2015
The decision made by the hon. Minister Ravi to merge both airlines should be appreciated. In fact, as per the percentage of inbound and outbound traffic, on a daily basis , there is no need for a second airline but needs more development of Colombo airport and a second runway if required. For countries like India or China, one could understand the necessity to have one or more budget airlines due to
the population. One should look into the economy of the country and not some one’s prestige.
Mattala airport, Hambantota port and Mihin air are white elephants
of the country with enormous amount of money put in and these were
bad judgements without any feasibility study made and we do not know who the bright sparks who advised the former president to invest in such ventures. It may be advisable to have a budget airline and regional airport built around Vanni Area, operating smaller planes which could serve the people of N/E and NC provinces to travel to India and other regional areas like the middle east at lower cost as there is plenty of Pilgrim traffic to and from India, house maid traffic to middle east and use the airline to provide feeder services to international airlines at Colombo airport to serve the diaspora, who may look for shorter travelling time to reach their destinations in N/E and NC provinces and overseas.More over there are plane loads of fresh vegetable and seas food available for shipment on a daily basis and avoid the hassle of travelling to Colombo airport and cart the perishables through sunny streets to BIA.
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S,Sivathasan / January 29, 2015
How sagaciously Lee Kuan Yew advised JR against going in for Air Lanka. Even today the advice is worth more than Rs 100 billion.
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Javi. / January 30, 2015
The airline alone was an initial success but everyone wants the easiest pot of gold plus no checks and balances and above all Ceylon never fought for independence the way Singapore fought. Independence was an accident so the free food ,free education etc.
Like poles JR & LKY repel!
If LKY ideas suit the local islanders then you should have had Rajapakse and VP what is the problem- nothing exist as wholes and parts in their natural context.
Check these eg.
• Lee Kuan Yew, The Man & His Ideas, 1997
• Put it this way. As long as Jeyaretnam [Workers’ Party leader] stands for what he stands for — a thoroughly destructive force for me — we will knock him. There are two ways of playing this. One, a you attack the policies; two, you attack the system. Jeyaretnam was attacking the system, he brought the Chief Justice into it. If I want to fix you, do I need the Chief Justice to fix you? Everybody knows that in my bag I have a hatchet, and a very sharp one. You take me on, I take my hatchet, we meet in the cul-de-sac. That’s the way I had to survive in the past. That’s the way the communists tackled me. He brought the Chief Justice into the political arena.
•
• Lee Kuan Yew on Singapore society, The Man & His Ideas, 1997
• Supposing Catherine Lim was writing about me and not the prime minister…She would not dare, right? Because my posture, my response has been such that nobody doubts that if you take me on, I will put on knuckle-dusters and catch you in a cul de sac…Anybody who decides to take me on needs to put on knuckle dusters. If you think you can hurt me more than I can hurt you, try. There is no other way you can govern a Chinese society.
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Navin / January 29, 2015
What about the Humbugtota airport?
What about the Medamulana cronies in both Airlines? Are they all going to keep getting their pay cheques, although it is not a given that they will know how to do any job assigned to them?
What kind of economies are envisaged?
And who will be the CEO of the Joint Venture?
This is pertaining to the right to information. Will the Government issue a statement with all the relevant issues including answers to the above questions?
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Navin / January 29, 2015
The Srilankan and Mihin Lanka losses taken together mean that each man woman and child who is a Sri Lanka citizen pays Rs 5,476 per head from their income.
Can the Government recover this loss from the Medamulana Gang?
If the loss cannot be recovered, can the Maha Eka be hanged by his neck until he is dead?
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bo / January 30, 2015
Wrong move. Keep Mihin out of SLK Airlines, let it go to dogs and be bankrupt. End of story. Merge with SLK Airlines, the nation/ public will for ever be servicing the debts incurred by that criminal gang of thieves. Let the original owners of Mihin Air be responsible for its debts.
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Jim softy / January 30, 2015
Sri lanka did not need a second air line.
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Javi. / January 31, 2015
Jimbo why have you woken go back to sleep deep , deep poth pute!
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Jim softy / January 30, 2015
The question is what happened to the $ THREE million Ravi Karunanayake got form Rajarathnam ?
did the govt confiscate it or HE keeps it.
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Sujiva Devarani / January 30, 2015
Also, hat happened to his Takaran deal with the Indians when he was at Sathosa?
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Javi. / January 30, 2015
I have never met him but first impression is he is a mudalali or else how could he have challenged Sajith the Panchikawatta Aluthkade modaya?
Who is his secretary thats the person who knows how every deal goes through just like paskaralingam
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Abhaya / January 30, 2015
This clown is in the process of taking the country and making it burma . shutting down everything . not highways no development . nothing . may as well shut down shop and move to somewhere else .
Cheers
Abhaya
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Native Vedda / January 30, 2015
bla bla blAbhaya
If you can find where 10%, 20%, 30% are being stashed and divest those properties in the USA the state can fund all those projects.
As a patriot could you go on the paper trail and find out the full extend of missing monies.
CT readers will be grateful to you.
Are you still carrying Basil’s b***s?
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Seelawathi / January 30, 2015
only genetic modificaton can help Abhaya the like in this world.
It is actually more than sad. This bugger would never get it. OMG
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Javi. / January 30, 2015
abe the ambude understands it so well because he is an army boy he is defending their errors and omissions in the best way he knows.He has shed some of his feathers on CT.
When matters draw close on him he would run and be wiser.
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Sukirihamy_Desparity / January 30, 2015
Abhaya you are the top of all clown in all times.
If anybody read yours for the last few months will at once agree with you guys are the clown – not worth even wasting a word.
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Jango / January 30, 2015
Abahaya – since you have already “moved to somewhere else”, deserting your country when things were not so great under your heroes, put a sock in it and keep your worthless opinions where they belong – where the sun don’t shine!
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BBS Rep / January 30, 2015
Well RK has delivered a mini budget. Some good initiatives no doubt. Yet it does not exonerate him from the pending case of fraud. It is almost forgotten. No one is talking about it in these columns.
The case was to be heard on the 29th of January, the same day as RK chose to deliver his mini budget. Did he do so to deflect attention from the pending case. Wasn’t he in contempt of court for not attending. Well, we have a new CJ. Hope justice will be done. The case must be heard and RK must be found guilty or not guilty.
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BBS Rep / January 30, 2015
Merging Mihin air with Air Lanka is good. But purging all Mihin Air directors and executives will be better.
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Javi. / January 30, 2015
“Merging Mihin air with Air Lanka is good.”
This is what successful man Tony F(Everyone can Fly) never wanted Mathir to ask of him.
Its easier to do afresh than take the burden of debt and repairs.
Everyone can Fly- not just the select few and some baggage men are pilots of his airline now in that god forsaken mmuslim nation where religious racist galore.
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Supun Jayawardhane / January 30, 2015
if they are Rajapakshe goons, better to hang them by their balls .. so that people can get it clearly
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lucky / January 30, 2015
Well if the proposed merger is an indirect way of closing down Mihin it is good.SriLankan surely has the capability and the necessary manpower to manage any additional routes that they may have to undertake as a result.Do not believe perhaps with the exception of some Tech/Cabin Crew,any other Mihin staff would fit in with UL as most of them do not posses adequate qualifications or experience.This is more so true in the case of Top management staff at Mihin including Heads of divisions and managers whose existence was mainly due to political patronage rather than any proven capabilities.Why burden SriLankan with more Baggage
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Javi. / January 30, 2015
either way it’s a quick harvest for a few big guns.
Seen Macwoods take over that took 5 years for the British personnel to leave.
You think kukul charlie did not know when he went there for tea?? Quite recently I met a bird in her close to 40’s who was born there to her anglo saxon parents who worked there as superintendents of estates.
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Lanka Watch / January 31, 2015
Lucky – you said it right. there is no need for a second airline
for Sri Lanka as there is no traffic in and out of Colombo to
fill both airlines. Instead of two airlines operating with heavy losses,which the tax payers cannot afford to bare,it is advisable to operate one airline with reduced staff and more flights on profitable routes as there is a saying that if an airline wants to earn profit, their fleet should be in the air most of the time rather than on ground.
Major mistake,the past SL govts. have made and the present govt.
is doing is to appoint chairmen and board of directors with no
knowledge in the aviation field. Unlike other institutions,
Airline industry needs knowledgeable people at the top to run it and as an example, take the case of Malaysian Airlines,a very senior Asian carrier operating for around 40 years had to recruit a foreigner recently to run the airline. Nationalism does not come into it as Lankans,it should be accepted, they lack required knowledge and experience in this field at top levels
The Minister of aviation, PM and the Finance minister must take a serious note of this statement and make the national carrier, Sri Lankan airlines, a profitable operation by engaging the right people, what ever nationality they may be, to run the airline, profitably. PM has set an example by recruiting a foreigner to head the central Bank as expertise is required to run an institution like CB
The former administrators have diverted scheduled flight to pick
up a VVIP dog, from one station and offloaded fare paying passengers, paying large sums as compensation, to accommodate VVIPs and their entourage from other stations and delaying flights
due late reporting of VVIPs and diverting flights to non scheduled stations to pick up VVIPs are some of the rare things happened in the past,at Sri Lankan airlines, due to mismanagement and the media all over, lashed out at the management and the country who owns the airline but no one cared and the airline flown with more empty seats. Sri Lankan airlines is the flag carrier of the Country and it should be run as an airline with
on time performance. Every one wants to join the airline for
perks but no one is interested in making it a profitable one.
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Palmsquirrell / January 30, 2015
Repaint the Mihin places.
Keep the Air Hostess and Pilots
Keep the ground crew and mechanics
Ditch the management and investigate them for corruption.
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Douglas / January 30, 2015
S.Sivathasan: You are wrong. Mr. Lee Kuan Yew was the person who helped JRJ to set up the then “Air Lanka”, in 1979. He sent a team of experts from Singapore Airlines to establish the airline for Sri Lanka and a “Management Agreement” was signed to station that team in Sri Lanka for two years commencing from September 01, 1979. In addition the SQ provided a Boeing 707 on a wet lease to start the flight operations. This team was headed by the Financial Director of Singapore airlines and his name was Mr. Kulasegaram. The Flight Operations Dept. of Air Lanka was headed by the Deputy Director of Flight Operations of SQ and his name was Capt. Gurum, while the Engineering Dept was headed by Mr. Poopathy, again a high ranking official of the Engineering Dept. of SQ. Above all SQ also agreed to release one of the most experienced Sri Lankan Pilot working for SQ as the Chairman of Air Lanka and his name was Capt. Rahikitha Wcikramanayake. That is only a very brief history of the formation of our National Career – Air Lanka.
However, with above very, very brief “Organizational Structure” of Air Lanka that became an envy in the eyes of international aviation industry, you will notice how an airline has to be managed and operated. Unfortunately after MR took over it purely on the basis of an “ego centric” circus, this National Career that had established and enviable position in the market was taken down the drain by “Incompetent” goons who had no iota or knowledge of “international Aviation” industry.
Now we see a person whose “expertise” on “Textile Industry”has been appointed as its Chairman. What a JOKE that is by this present Government? Are the present Government Authorities deficient of proper professionals to run massive business ventures like International Aviation.? What a pity?. At least our Authorities should have had the presence of mind to look around and see how this aviation industry is managed and who and what are their plans. A good example is another “Budget” airline operating in Malaysia by the name “Air Asia”. This airline is today ten times bigger than our National Career and its asset worth is thousand times bigger than our own.
We never learn. This is another example of placing “square pegs in round holes”.
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S,Sivathasan / January 30, 2015
Douglas,
Lee Kuan Yew wrote thus; “He (JR) wanted to start an airline. … I advised him that an airline should not be his priority. … An airline was a glamour project, not of great value for Sri Lanka”. Was LKY not forthright enough?
Those who read LKY’s Memoirs can remember these words. Those who don’t remember also might have read them.
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Javi. / January 30, 2015
I remember not just that but also our `army tattoos` at Sugadadasa Stadium by
`glamour army` left by the former overall ruler the British Raj.
But then the Porriki Jaffna Tam`ills` started with gunning Duraiappa and remote control explosions for the forces to be what it is today.
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Javi. / January 30, 2015
“Now we see a person whose “expertise” on “Textile Industry”has been appointed as its Chairman.”
The bombastic one- Boris Johnson handled the olympics beyond the expectations of even the Chinese who thought they were the best and cheapest in the world.
He is a graduate of the classics and of mixed ethnicity not anglo saxon- red ken was just a fart.
Today young Chinese see him as a leader with a sense of humor unparalleled by the English.
How about journalist have they not proved too.
How about engineers into banking- have they not proved that all the banksters were a farce.
one needs concepts then comes the detail. not action plans when structure plans are hidden in cloud nine.
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Snowden Edward Asange / January 30, 2015
It would be even better IF we can bring back the agreement we had with Emirates airlines, which worked best.. This agreement was canceled by MR coz he was NOT allocated enough seats for his GANG of thieves to return from London.. Until such time Sri-Lanakan Airlines was managed in a business like manner and once the agreement was struck off, it became PRIVATE PROPERTY of MR and clowns… there is evidence coming up that BOORUWANSA and GLP had not settled their dues to the airline running into millions of rupees.. Also interesting to note that BOORUWANSA’s wife had obtained a Normal and a Diplomatic passport using two different names and date of birth.. nice….. Now she could be arrested for obtaining passports using fraudulent methods… Booruwa should be arrested too for aiding and abetting a crime… I bet now he would shut up thinking it might help to calm teh situation.. Aiyooo Booruwansa….Aiyooo Booruwansa
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banda / January 30, 2015
02 Loss making Airlines merged to make double loss…
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Javi. / January 30, 2015
nothing gets lost it only goes missing- just like the financial crash of the west; the loot is hidden in the hands of a few New World Order. Ed Milliband just spoilt its smooth flow by knee jerk action (syria)
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Douglas / January 30, 2015
S.Sivathasa: Thank you. Yes I read it. It was his “opinion” and “advice” to our President.Anyone can give opinion and advice; but it is to be weighed and make decisions suitable to us and the country. That is why JRJ made that decision to establish Air Lanka in place of Air Ceylon that had a history of “Fifty” (50) years in International Aviation. Also it was very creditable and far thinking to have sought the “Assistance” of the very person who gave that advice. When Air Lanka landed at international airports, we made our presence felt and admired, for its unique service, especially the Inflight service. So this country needed an International Career and Air Lanka become that “ICON”.
Perhaps you would remember its growth from a wet leased Boeing 707 to Tri Stars to Mega Top Boeing 747s by 1983. It was JRJ who was the “CREATOR” and the “DESTROYER” of this National symbol. He appointed a Presidential Commission to inquire into a “Disciplinary matter” of a family member, and coated it with “Mismanagement” and got the entire Board of Directors out with its capable Chairman Capt. wickramanayake whom he, himself appointed. This was followed with that cancerous “Political Appointments” and there started the great “DOWN FALL”.
If those in “Authority” today reflect upon that HISTORY, this National ICON can be regained, provided “NO NONSENSE” Management Style is brought back to it’s operations and administration.
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Javi. / January 30, 2015
Its very Anglo to set up commissions and committees to reverse engineer too and kill the idea- anyone can do that.
you see it all along when judgments are passed with inferior bench marks.
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Lanka Watch / January 31, 2015
Mr.Sivathasan,
What Douglas has said about the formation of AirLanka is absolutely correct. It was SQ who started the airline
for Sri lanka. LKY was the PM, Singapore then and sure he would have
had a hand in it. Some of the Asian nations solicited LKY’s advice
on political matters in his hey days and he would have advised JR
that airline is not the priority when there was communal disunity
in the country but he did help in the formation of Air Lanka, which
became the envy of SQ itself and many other carriers in the area due to the popularity of Air Lanka’s on time performance and in flight
services.
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