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Government clarifies stance on SriLankan Airlines

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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.”

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