Home Sri Lanka Government clarifies stance on SriLankan Airlines
Sri Lanka

Government clarifies stance on SriLankan Airlines

Share
Share

Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Ratnayake says that the necessary measures are being taken to continue SriLankan Airlines as a state-owned company.

The Minister points out that the previous government had planned to sell the debt-ridden national carrier.

Minister Ratnayake made this statement while speaking to the media following a discussion held at the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation.

“SriLankan Airlines was closed, sold and destroyed. Also, to my knowledge, three aircraft were grounded for 3 years without engines. The previous Wickremesinghe governments paid 9 million dollars a month to keep the aircraft grounded for 3 years. That’s what they did well. Now, as far as I know, Mr. Ganegoda and other new leaders have come in and somehow found money and one of the grounded aircraft is currently operating and the other two are expected to be operational before April. So, that’s why they are planning to move forward without selling SriLankan Airlines.”

Share

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Articles
Sri Lanka

71 pc of families to receive Aswesuma, says minister

Nearly 71 percent of the country’s families depend on Aswesuma, said minister...

Sri Lanka

Don’t expect magic in 5 yrs.; 20 yrs. needed to build country – Chaturanga Abeysinghe

Around 20 years are needed to bring about a full transformation in...

Sri Lanka

Sarvajana Balaya takes forward Mahinda Rajapaksa’s vision – Dilith Jayaweera

Sarvajana Balaya aims to support the creation of a formidable force to...

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan journalist’s questioning under PTA raises alarm over press freedom

A prominent Sri Lankan journalist was questioned recently by authorities under the...