SriLankan Airlines incurs loss of Rs. 55 bn this year : Ravi Karunanayake

Colombo (News 1st): Minister Ravi Karunanayaka made a statement in parliament today (March 12) about public enterprises. He noted that the development in this country has halted, either it has to be handed over to the politicians or it has to be handed over to the government officials. Minister Karunanayake noted that the national carrier SriLankan Airlines is operating without proper leadership and without a proper plan. He said a loss of Rs. 55 billion was incurred this year and if proper investigations are not carried out into this incident, the taxpayers money would be wasted. What happened to SriLankan Airlines? During the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration a brother-in-law was appointed to SriLankan Airlines and a close associate Sajin De Vaas Gunawardena was appointed to Mihin Lanka, while his brother was appointed to SriLankan Airlines. It resulted in the creation of yet another state enterprise that burdens the general public. When the new government was elected, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed Suren Ratwatte, the brother of his associate Charitha Ratwatte to the post of CEO of SriLankan. According to Minister Ravi Karunanayake's statement, relatives and close friends are responsible for losses amounting to Rs. 55 Billion that was incurred by SriLankan Airlines this year. It must be noted, the top posts of a number of SOEs including the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Litro Gas Company and Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation are held by the relatives of ministers. The statement made by Minister Ravi Karunanayaka is an interesting one. But who is truly responsible for making SriLankan Airlines, a loss making enterprise? Does this not show that appointing unqualified relatives and close associates, to high positions at state owned enterprises has only led to an increase in the losses further burdening the general public?