SriLankan loss is greater than 'Aruvakkaru' project: Champika

20 December 2017 06:02 am - 28 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The entire country should urge the government to hand over the SriLankan Airlines to the AirAsia which is a low-cost Airline as the national carrier is a financial burden to the country, Minister Champika Ranawaka said yesterday.

Responding to a question raised at a press conference Minister Ranawaka said SriLankan Airline is continuously making heavy losses.

He said it lost millions in several operations including when purchasing aircraft and it incurred a loss of Rs. 28 billion last year as well.

Minister said that only Rs. 15 billion was spent to construct the Aruwakkaru sanitary land fill to address city's grabage issue and the SriLankan Airline's loss was even greater than the garbage project.

Minister said the present government’s first move was to remove three aircraft purchased during previous government and later approved to remove another four aircraft.

Therefore Minister Ranawaka said that he doesn’t believe that it could be profitable to maintain the SriLankan Airlines further as such a strategic move is required to make a viable business venture.

“Both the SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka became a burden to the country and the previous government should be held the responsible for it,” minister added. (Thilanka Kanakarathna)

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Comments - 28

Unchikun Wednesday, 20 December 2017 06:36 AM

Thank you Mr. Minister for educating us on the loss to Air Lanka using "Aruwakkaru" as a yard stick. Could also please educate us on the loss to the people or the gain to Perpetual Treasuries from the Bond scam using "Aruwakkaru" as the yard stick.

dimuthu Thursday, 21 December 2017 03:17 PM

What are you trying to say? this post is about sri lankan air lines. He may do it in another post.

Potta Harry Wednesday, 20 December 2017 06:39 AM

People should urge Sri Lanka to be handed over to another country to manage.

Don Juan Wednesday, 20 December 2017 07:00 AM

Sri lankan airline is a severely mismanaged garbage dump. This losses would have been invested to the improve the quality of education level of the country. It is utter crime to have this National Pride and the financial damages caused is more than the looting of central bank. Previous government hide the utter loss Mihin lanka inside the Sri Lanken airline to camouflager the losses of ML. However, it is highly appreciated to maintain the safety level of the carrier to highest standards and for that I thanks to the hardworking staff.

Shaq Wednesday, 20 December 2017 07:16 AM

The minister stop these remarks and get on with finding an immediate jv. Qatar Airways should be the best bet.

DJ Wednesday, 20 December 2017 07:16 AM

What about the money paid to cancel aircraft an even worse decision. No wonder with brainless ministers like you this country will never prosper

Sambo Wednesday, 20 December 2017 07:20 AM

The Sri Lankan is in such a mess today is because you politicians who take as your personnel property. Not the public. Change the top chairs, stop wastage, stop un profitable routes and then see how it works. Everything that is a loss sell it. Do we need to spend so much money and have people like you in making such decisions. Even a grade 8 student can understand that.

sumal perera Wednesday, 20 December 2017 07:25 AM

Champika...don't blame SriLankan for losses. Blame Ajith Dias and the clan of Ranil's friends for mismanagement... You must at least by now should have a spine to talk against Ranil and his useless friends for the mess that has been created in the economy.

Jaliya Wednesday, 20 December 2017 07:29 AM

We are the low cost national carrier .... and we are proud of it would be the slogan. " He said it lost millions in several operations including when purchasing aircraft and it incurred a loss of Rs. 28 billion last year as well " Generally, when some idiot make a unwise transaction for their personnel financial gains they need to be held accountable for it..... we have yet to see that ? Now let's look at the construction of the Aruwakkaru sanitary land fill at US$ 100M ... at those costs No need to say anything there are corruption there too.

turtle Wednesday, 20 December 2017 07:32 AM

agree with you on this, if Air Asia wants srilankan airlines, i think we should just hand it over. we need income and tourism to boom.

manel Wednesday, 20 December 2017 07:47 AM

Another salesman of National Assets. These guys must have courage to say they are incompetent.

Dhammika Wednesday, 20 December 2017 07:55 AM

The previous govt , and then chairman of SriLankan is roaming FREELY . Telling the TRUTH is GOOD but taking action to punish those responsible is GREAT .

Shennal Angunawela Wednesday, 20 December 2017 07:59 AM

Hon. Champika, do not agree with your views. Our National carrier is running at a loss mainly because of political bungling and mismanagement. Sri Lanka has capable people to manage this airline, if it is managed professionally.

Lord Wolfstein Wednesday, 20 December 2017 11:33 AM

There are no Sri Lankans able to manage the airline. Even if there is a qualified person to do so, he could never withstand political pressure. Nepotism and corruption would continue to flourish. This can only be changed by a foreign management that has even the backbone to oppose a dictator like Sir Tim Clark has done.

sri Lankan Wednesday, 20 December 2017 08:01 AM

You were part of the previous government and you too should be held responsible.

Nilanga De Silva Wednesday, 20 December 2017 08:08 AM

This issues are not limited to Sri Lankan Airlines. The whole country is being run by incompetent politicians and private and public sector management. These guys have no clue how to run and manage things. Best example is a pilot running the Sri Lanka airlines. What management qualifications has he got? zero.

Sir, please Wednesday, 20 December 2017 08:25 AM

Sir, CANCELLATION COST of unnecessary purchase of A350 aircraft is huge. The blame for this cannot be passed to current government. Also, please find out how PREVIOUS GOVT bought these aircraft at more than the market value and hence who received commission.

ranjit demel Wednesday, 20 December 2017 08:38 AM

the best would be to Hand over this Country to China to govern.pöliticians in s.l. are corrupt crimminells,including you.nothing would Change in s.l. ,only bla bla .to hell with you crimminells.

nalin Wednesday, 20 December 2017 08:48 AM

Yes. And millions of people in the country have to pay for the sins of corrupt politicians for whom the few thousand workers (including union rabble rousers) votes seem more important.

Rohitha Wednesday, 20 December 2017 08:52 AM

And yet, some people call it a national pride !!

bushel_pereraB Wednesday, 20 December 2017 08:57 AM

EVEN BOND SCAM IS LESS THAN THAT. SO . FORGET BOND ISSUE WHICH IS A LIE

BuffaloaCitizen Wednesday, 20 December 2017 08:59 AM

But you were part of the previous government and when this was all happening you were like a transvestite ready to do any thing anyway to please that government.

perera Wednesday, 20 December 2017 11:32 AM

I can't agree with you for handing over to Airasia. We should maintain state ownership, however, the government should look for partnership. First thing, SL should acquire management expertise in the industry who are capable. Ex-pilot are not capable in managing air line and making stratagic changes.

Terminator> Wednesday, 20 December 2017 11:44 AM

These are the consequences caused by the members of previous government. If SL airline is on loss we need to find a feasible solution to transform it into a profitable and best airline rather handing it over to another airline unless in a worst condition.

Geo Wednesday, 20 December 2017 01:57 PM

Sri Lankan modayas can't manage a air line... Good only to eat kavun... Haha ho ho. .

ceylon Wednesday, 20 December 2017 02:18 PM

who pay the loss.who went to jail for these corruptions.this man is a known corrupt law braker. motor byke rider who narrowly escape frm death frm his hit and run driving still treating his injuries. via DM Android App

SAM Thursday, 21 December 2017 09:16 AM

Please bring out an inquiry right from the time SL took over from Emirates right until now also with details regarding Mihin. It its running at a loss, and pay salaries for 4M please bring out the hard hard work these people have done. There also have been news that Air Hostess was paid 1 for political propaganda activities, luxary air bus cabin, over staff etc.After all its all innocent peoples hard earned money.Its a shame for the very people who support these incapable or crookish plunderers who after all pay for their acts. These crooks should never be voted be kicked out.

tilak Sunday, 24 December 2017 09:47 PM

Srilankan and Govt. Department are same. Both running on Treasurary. The entire loss is recovered by Tax collectors money. Do Public suffer from these?. They need good roads, new electrified railway system , Garbage recycle plants and housings...Hence Srilankan is no more national pride/It's national debit carrier and national shame.

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SriLankan loss is greater than 'Aruvakkaru' project: Champika

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