Govt. ends search for foreign partner for Srilankan

16 March 2018 06:30 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 46 Bookmark

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The Government has decided to stop looking for a foreign partner for the national carrier SriLankan Airlines, informed sources said.

Accordingly, sources said the new plan is to hand SriLankan over to a local public-private venture.

This decision had been reached after listening to the views expressed by trade unions and employees of SriLankan and government advisors.

Newly appointed Minister of State Enterprise Development Lakshman Kiriella is expected to monitor the affairs of the national carrier. (Yohan Perera)

Comments - 46

saman Friday, 16 March 2018 09:07 AM

Terminating the contract with the Emirates was the biggest mistakes MR made back then.

28 194

Dayan Friday, 16 March 2018 12:32 PM

It was National economic disaster created by to retain FAMILY CONTROL and then he 5.8 million voters approval for it

20 124

vithura Friday, 16 March 2018 02:55 PM

Why are not the govt hauling him before special investigation panel to account for this financial crime that is draining the Treasury day in day out.

6 70

sach Friday, 16 March 2018 03:16 PM

No. It was the best decision. Research more into it.

71 22

sanat Friday, 16 March 2018 05:42 PM

ignorance is bliss! MR did the right thing! UAE fleeced us, UTA deal was the best.

56 15

Freddy Yong Friday, 16 March 2018 09:14 AM

Aiyo, nikang dunnath apa, bung.

5 74

Bombastic Friday, 16 March 2018 09:31 AM

Because no company wants to become a debtor in the millions over night.

4 87

Libtard Friday, 16 March 2018 09:51 AM

That is the best scenario but the given reason is all BS. Nobody wanted to buy Sri Lankan airlines. I'm doubtful whether a local private firm will step in either. Best thing is to hire a competent board from all over the world and give 10 years for the national airlines to correct itself. We will have to buy new aircraft too given most of the loss is made because of fuel inefficient old aircraft we have.

6 78

Premalal Friday, 16 March 2018 01:56 PM

No board however competent would be able to run the airline, unless there is a restructing programme with many job reductions and skills aquired.

2 56

Jude Friday, 16 March 2018 09:55 AM

Srilankan airlines must be dismantled!!! The airline is a huge burden to government Treasury!!! Under the present context of airline business only few airlines able to make sustainable profit!!!

10 72

Liberal One Friday, 16 March 2018 01:16 PM

Problem is if we are to be a top tourist destination we need at-least two airlines that are based in Sri Lanka. All tourist hub maintain a state owned airline.

7 38

Whatsmore Friday, 16 March 2018 03:34 PM

Change the logo to kite, fly to Mattala not risking peacocks’ lives, make them himin slowly roam around skies over the southern gold coasts.

6 10

Samindre Friday, 16 March 2018 04:47 PM

Only way disband this big mess. Do lease contract with another airline to code share - only way now.

2 13

Sorry state Friday, 16 March 2018 10:04 AM

Who like to commit suicide by partnering with you? So no one wants to partner with you. In addition, he (LK) is NOT a right person to monitor the affairs of the national carrier.

1 57

Jude Friday, 16 March 2018 10:15 AM

SL government should get out of airline business or in other words Stop Milking a Dead Cow !!! And then Government should charge other airlines a substantial Landing Fee thereby making some billions of revenue from the airports!! Remember, passengers cannot drive or take a taxi to India to connect flight or can't take a ferry or boat!!

6 37

rajitha7 Friday, 16 March 2018 10:17 AM

The Air-line can co-operate with hotels and offer complete packages. So the air-line only make a small margin but the tourist once arrive in the country is up sold other things where money is made.

3 23

Pachaya Friday, 16 March 2018 10:21 AM

Commissions and commissions and commissions Commission glore

3 32

Jude Friday, 16 March 2018 10:22 AM

SL government should follow how Toronto Pearson airport operator the GTAA (Greater Toronto Airports Authority) make money!!! Yeah, Toronto airport is most expensive to take off international flights, because GTAA charges most exorbitant landing fee!!! Yet, all major airlines land there!!!

18 18

Older citizen Friday, 16 March 2018 10:27 AM

Listening to the trade unions and making business decisions ! Never heard of!! Pathetic situation of Sri Lankan will continue!

5 60

BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 16 March 2018 10:41 AM

The best lesson for this country. The Politicians abused this air line and the foreign managements that were profitably administrating this air line. Knowing this culture, foreign investors are not ready to come forward anymore.

1 64

cheers Friday, 16 March 2018 10:48 AM

Nothing wrong with the culture they are protecting the airline of our country with pride. But the problem is the politicians like ranil and maithree who does not know how to manage that is the difference

56 18

BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 16 March 2018 12:53 PM

Cheers - keep cheering the culture of impunity and lets see what you will have left to pride over.

0 41

Ajay Friday, 16 March 2018 12:49 PM

Ona gonay kuta Sri Lankan goda danna puluwan

4 10

Doctor Friday, 16 March 2018 01:46 PM

I am happy to invest in Srilanka . Can you please tell me an area where people don’t go on strike , do their job without wasting anyone’s time and money and alsono plotical interference.

0 45

Sincere Friday, 16 March 2018 02:08 PM

When it was Air Lanka, it was the most profitable, the best and the most popular airline in the South East Asia. It was the pride of Sri Lanka. Passengers were provided an exemplary service. An airline which was always on time. It was the privilege of Sri Lankans to use it for their overseas tours. Then governments did not look for collaborators or partners to run it. Politicians could not sleep until it was sold out. The then Aviation Minister said, the only change that would effect in Air Lanka was the change of its logo. The proud logo of the airline Monara (Peakoki) was replaced by a bird similar to one who was drowned in a destroyed Iraqi oil well. It became a taxi service of another airline. They broke its backbone. Its profitable routs were taken away from it. It was not the ordinary people of the country who caused this disaster on this national wealth. Then who did it? Should we not talk the truth?

6 41

Tony Friday, 16 March 2018 03:01 PM

VERY TRUE

3 24

TJ Friday, 16 March 2018 02:16 PM

Government was forced to end the search, as no one was ready to deal with an unreliable business partner

1 33

Katie Friday, 16 March 2018 02:37 PM

Its easy for people to criticize and say close down the airline, but who ever thinks of the 7000 odd employees working at SriLankan and what their families will have to go through. Why are our people so selfish? Hand it over to Mr Harry Jayawardena to run it and see the outcome. Harry Jayawardena is the man for SriLankan.

22 12

Sincere Friday, 16 March 2018 03:18 PM

Sri Lankians who once knew the majestic Ari Lanka never even in their dreams think of its closure Katie.

1 11

Jaya Friday, 16 March 2018 04:41 PM

The same people who are shouting to shutdown the airline will tell ten years later that even Ethiopia has an airline while Sri Lanka don't. Such is our Talk only no action citizen.

1 18

Sri Wickrema Friday, 16 March 2018 08:29 PM

7000 odd staff ? If it is true no one can blame CTB.

2 10

Abil Friday, 16 March 2018 02:40 PM

have some brains.....find a partner....we are not influent country first of all. via DM Android App

0 10

Sanath Friday, 16 March 2018 02:50 PM

Undue political influence and trade unions are the contributors to the downfall.

1 24

Suneth Perera Friday, 16 March 2018 02:59 PM

What ever this government do please do not repeat previous regime because if that is the case next government allowed to take this government to FCID. Please liquidate it by selling plan by plan and part by part. People of this country never elected this government to use their money to waste like Mahinda regime. Any fool can make billions of rupees by taxing potato, union sugar and many other essential items of poor peoples.

1 15

Nadi Karunaratne Friday, 16 March 2018 03:55 PM

Better close it before we chuck even more good money after bad. Sri Lankan, brought low by the diseased vanity of MR and unsuitability of his brother-in-law. When you see who is now overseeing it you know the future is not bright. Sri Lankan politics - a talent free-zone.

5 14

Ahamed Friday, 16 March 2018 03:58 PM

Sell some shares to either Mr. Dhammika Perera or Mr. Harry Jayawardana and you will see a difference. If not for the present Anti Muslim sentiment, Qatar would have been a partner, some idiots ruined that opportunity.

8 22

Sanka Friday, 16 March 2018 03:58 PM

1. Appoint industrial experienced people to TOP management as chairman , ceo and head of operations. If we doesn’t have such qualified people, get them internationally.2. Inform all the Politicians to stay away of the air line duties. No Politicians are permitted to influence or force for anything to do.3. Ask union members to stay away from all the union activities, if they want to save their jobs. Specially the JVP support unions. 4. Appoint a knowledgeable person as a head of CAAS and improve and develop the operations and acitivities in BIA. 5. Make the air lines to run by an independence body where government in present or future cannot interferes.6. Give one -two years time frame for entire staff to improve the air line.

0 17

azmath Friday, 16 March 2018 05:38 PM

Such a huge debt. of sri lankan airlines incurred because of Mahinda and Clan.. So, why judiciary and government not going behind them to recover this losses or debts.Why we have to still cover these so called looters?

3 10

Upul Friday, 16 March 2018 06:08 PM

I think the problem with srilankan airlines is that, it is overstaffed and the salaries are a bit too high side. If you reduce the unnecessary staff and drop the management salaries by 25-30% it can make some profit. Also it needs to add some high traffic routes to their schedules.

0 16

concern Friday, 16 March 2018 06:46 PM

Whatever you have stated is true but you are dealing with Sri Lanka with their mentality.

0 4

DillonDP Friday, 16 March 2018 07:03 PM

At lest they completed something -

1 1

Palli Kanda Friday, 16 March 2018 07:10 PM

For once and for all bring back Nishantha and run the damn thing to the ground!!!

3 7

Vaz Friday, 16 March 2018 07:29 PM

The ground services need to be privatised as per maintain the good service and keep the cost in control.

1 4

Tommy Friday, 16 March 2018 07:47 PM

I bet, the real reason is that nobody was will to get in to a joint venture with this airline.

0 10

Southpaw Friday, 16 March 2018 09:23 PM

Hand over the Airline Management to Harry J who has a strong reputation of Transforming sick companies in to profitable ventures

6 4

DG Saturday, 17 March 2018 07:51 AM

Tax payers cannot continue to bear huge losses. Reduce staff and get it run by true professional team and remove political interference/involvement completely. Biggest mistake has been MR removal of Emirates.

0 2

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