By unusuma.lk on (LK time)
Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, Bimal Ratnayake, announced that steps are being taken to continue operating SriLankan Airlines as a state-owned company.
He revealed that one of three aircraft grounded for three years, incurring a cost of $0.9 million per month, has now been repaired and is ready for operations. The Minister also noted that two more grounded aircraft are expected to be operational before April.
Speaking to the media after a discussion held at the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation, Minister Ratnayake stated:
“SriLankan Airlines had been closed, sold, and mismanaged. To my knowledge, three planes were grounded for three years without engines. The previous Ranil-led governments spent $900,000 per month on these idle planes. That’s how they managed the airline.”
The Minister commended the efforts of the new leadership under Mr. Ganegoda for securing the funds needed to repair and relaunch one of the planes. Plans are in place to have two additional aircraft operational in the coming months, demonstrating a commitment to moving forward without selling the airline.
