Minister of Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake says plans to sell the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, formulated under the former Ranil Wickremesinghe Government, have been halted.
Speaking to reporters, Minister Bimal Rathnayake said discussions with other firms regarding the airline are underway with the intervention of new SriLankan Airlines Chairman Sarath Ganegoda.
He confirmed that, as of now, plans to privatize and sell shares of SriLankan Airlines have been suspended.
Minister Bimal Rathnayake revealed that SriLankan Airlines was ‘closed’, ‘sold’, and destroyed by the former government.
“To my knowledge, three SriLankan Airlines aircraft were grounded for three years without engines. The previous Government led by Ranil Wickremesinghe paid US$ 9 million per month to keep these aircraft grounded for three years,” he said.
Minister Rathnayake said, however, that the current authorities have already managed to find some funds due to which one grounded aircraft has commenced operations.
He further said that efforts are underway to commence operations of the remaining two grounded aircraft before April this year.
The Minister of Civil Aviation added that SriLankan Airlines authorities are taking the necessary steps to ensure the continued operation of the airline as a State-owned company, preventing its sale or privatization.
He made the remarks while speaking to the media following a discussion at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation recently. (Newswire)