Thu, 28 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

Delay to return leased aircraft: SriLankan incurs US$12mn loss

By

18 January 2019 04:56 am - 5     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

SriLankan airlines has incurred a loss of US$12.5 million or Rs.1.72 billion between 2006 and 2018 because of its failure to re-deliver 14 leased aircraft to the lessor before the deadline, the PCoI on irregularities at SriLankan, SriLankan catering and Mihin Lanka was told yesterday.

SriLankan's Technical Services Engineer Asitha Fernando, referring to his documents said the delay in re-delivering the aircraft was due to the lack of staff to carry out repairs, the failure to maintain documents and the breakdown in some of the components.

When Mr. Fernando was asked why the engineering division had not taken any precautions to prevent this kind of unnecessary delay in re-delivering the aircraft, the witness said he was not aware about any such precautions being taken by his division.

However, PCoI Chairman Justice Anil Goonaratne highlighted the fact that SriLankan officials had deliberately misplaced the lot of important documents so as to hide the evidence and directed the witnesses to submit all necessary documents related to the lease of the 14 aircraft without giving unnecessary explanations at the inquiry.

Meanwhile, SriLankan's Production Planning Assistant Manager Samantha Liyanage informed the PCoI that most of these aircraft were at the end of their life-cycle during the re-delivery period and SriLankan had carried out an inspection before returning the aircraft.

“The big players in the airline industry do not purchase planes that are over six years and they don’t keep planes that are over 10 years in their fleet. This is one of the ways to avoid complications before returning the planes,” he said.

Justice Anil Goonaratne said the higher management of the airline should have taken the necessary steps to minimize these delays because such incidents had continued to happen over the years.

“This is public money. The management should stop leasing aircraft which are nearing their life-cycle and should have a plan to ground them at the proper time, providing the engineers adequate time to carry out repairs. It seems that the airline has no proper plan about anything,” he said. (Yoshitha Perera)


Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 5

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • Upul Friday, 18 January 2019 05:45 AM

    Inefficiency in almost all the departments in srilankan airlines, is the root cause for these losses. This is sad, but everybody seem to be responsible for this state of the airline.

    Arnold Friday, 18 January 2019 07:06 AM

    We the hard working, tax paying public end up paying for these inefficiencies of the politicians and officials.

    mnsmart Friday, 18 January 2019 08:06 AM

    Now don't blame the politicians, recover from these inefficient officials including the head of dpt

    Chu Friday, 18 January 2019 10:05 AM

    Are these officials still at work????

    Sambo Friday, 18 January 2019 10:29 AM

    So that is also gone to the DOGS now. We are developing very fast towards the rock bottom.


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

VAT increase: SOUNDs death knell for publishers, readers

Though the Government imposed VAT (Value Added Tax) on vegetables and other e

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H