Ashok Pathirage appointed as SriLankan Chairman

Dynamic business leader Ashok Pathirage has been appointed as the new Chairman of the national carrier SriLankan Airlines.

The appointment has been made by the Tourism and Aviation Ministry.

Pathirage is the founder of the Softlogic group, which has extensive interests in the country’s retail market. The group also owns the country’s largest privately-owned hospital chain under Asiri Hospitals.

The group has further interests in financial services, IT, leisure and automobiles.

Pathirage is also Deputy Chairman of National Development Bank PLC and Chairman of NDB Capital Holdings Ltd.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said all appointments to state-owned enterprises and statutory and regulatory body would be appointed through a thorough vetting process. 

His election manifesto pledges to make state enterprises profitable and not to privatise them.

SriLankan Airlines has been honoured with numerous aviation awards for its service standards and is a frequent pick among the best airlines operating in the South 
Asian region.

However, the airline is in a dismal financial position, reporting Rs.41.7 billion loss for FY19, up from Rs.18.6 billion loss in FY18. The airline also has Rs.223.5 billion in retained losses.
The airline group also has a catering unit, which is profit-making.