Restructuring SriLankan Ministers told to submit views on Eran’s proposals

By Kelum Bandara

At yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have asked the ministers to submit their views on the recommendations made by State Minister of Finance, Eran Wickramaratne on restructuring SriLankan airlines on the basis of a public-private partnership.  

The state minister in his report to the ministers outlined the financial position of the national carrier and pointed out that the amount owed by SriLankan to the state banks and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) stood at Rs.102.55 billion or US$582 million as at April 30, 2019 with an annual interest payable of US$62 million.   

He said the ballooning debt was a contingent liability on the Treasury impacting the country’s credit rating and that the debt component was reaching one per cent of the Gross Domestic Product -- an amount equivalent to Rs.7,300 for every citizen. 

 
The state minister said the national carrier required an additional sum of US$250 to 300 million in new capital to update the fleet, business practices, competition and tourism demand, but the Treasury was unable to provide such an amount.  He said SriLankan would have a cash deficit of US$874 million within the next five years but the new restructuring would enable the airline to break even within a few years.

 The amount owed by SriLankan to the state banks and the Ceylon Petroleum  Corporation (CPC) stood at Rs.102.55 billion or US$582 million as at  April 30, 2019 with an annual interest payable of US$62 million