Appoint Dhammika Perera as CEO of SriLankan Airlines: Opposition MP

24 November 2025 04:00 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 23 Bookmark

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By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Colombo, Nov. 24 (Daily Mirror) - A cross talk popped up between opposition MP Chithral Fernando and Minister Bimal Rathnayake in Parliament today where the former said there is a conflict of interest on the part of current Chairman of the national carrier, Sarath Ganegoda.

MP Fernando said Ganegoda is the chairman of another domestic airline and this situation leads to a conflict of interest.

"The government should look into this matter," the MP said.

He said the government should appoint businessesman Dhammika Perera as CEO of Srilankan Airlines.

Minister Rathnayake, who responded said one must look at the work carried out by a person and not the person himself and the other positions they hold.

Comments - 23

Tilak Monday, 24 November 2025 04:04 PM

The Minister seems to be unaware of the concept called - Conflict of Interest!

47 39

Esco Tuesday, 25 November 2025 09:20 AM

Appointing a crook who does not pay taxes is also a conflict of interest.

1 25

Harsha Wijewardene Tuesday, 25 November 2025 01:21 PM

Srisunken drainlines a big drain on tax payers money. Burning cash, corrupt from top to bottom. Overstaffed with lazy political lackeys.

2 12

ANNE CUNT Monday, 24 November 2025 04:29 PM

very good answer by Mr Bimal ,at the moment the airline is cheating the taxpayers, price of tickets so high but making a huge loss

15 15

Not viable Monday, 24 November 2025 05:08 PM

Aircraft's will go along the roads.

4 11

saman Monday, 24 November 2025 05:33 PM

instead of appointing one politically motivated person, better to appoint a group of successful businessmen form JKH, Aitken Spence, Access, Hayleys etc to the Board to run this failed airline

8 56

Sisira W Saturday, 29 November 2025 05:03 PM

There is no successful businessman or businesswoman who hasn't either paid bribes or done favours for their business interest. I wouldn't trust any from JKH, Aitken Spence or any of those businesses who pay minimal taxes to the state.

0 5

Making the Right Choice Monday, 24 November 2025 06:04 PM

Unfortunately, SriLankan Airlines could never reach its full potential since it broke its progressive partnership with Emirates Airline. That again was a political blunder followed by inept, corrupt, clueless and totally unsuitable individuals appointed to be at the helm for all the wrong reasons. Running an International Airline is extremely complex business and needs proven professional knowledge and experience at crucial top positions. This is a short sighted proposal for appointing yet another individual with a questionable track record and presumably zero knowledge in international aviation, akin to past 'wisdom' that brought the airline to its current pathetic financial state. It is imperative the present government takes heed of these facts in finding the next CEO for SriLankan Airlines. That must be a proven individual in international aviation with a clean track record who will not try to run the airline as their private enterprise for personal glory!

3 32

Mina Monday, 24 November 2025 06:27 PM

Once I could remember that he was appointed as a chairman of some entity, during Gothabaya regime but the results he had shown was not that impressive.

0 33

Poosa Tuesday, 25 November 2025 10:23 AM

Hardly surprising that Dhammika Perera would screw up Air Lanka, just like what he did merging Softlogic, Singer, Abans, Singhagiri, Dinapala and GenXT under his rule back in 2017.

0 8

Lion Monday, 24 November 2025 06:33 PM

During Ranil’s period of presidency he appointed Softlogic Chaimrn Pathirage as the chairman of Air lanka, even during his period he could not show any impressive results.

0 33

Vincent Kajjah Monday, 24 November 2025 06:33 PM

How much do they charge now to make a statement like this in the parliament?

1 34

Rishan Tuesday, 25 November 2025 12:01 AM

Appoint a person who has finance and aviation background and not a businessman like DP.

2 6

Robin Banks Tuesday, 25 November 2025 01:33 AM

A casino in the sky? Get the sleaze bag to pay the taxes he has been avoiding.

0 10

roobarbie Tuesday, 25 November 2025 05:17 AM

No, DP could still be influenced by politicians to whom he is loyal. Best to make an experienced foreign (European) CEO well experienced in airline business. It is a specialised sector of the industry for which Sri Lankans are not qualified. Not even DP, I am sorry to say. You may recall that we had Mr Clark, who later became the CEP of Emirates, but the corrupt Saataka Prez Mahinda messed with him, and he left plunging the airline from a highly profitable enterprise to a shamfully bankrupt one , propped up by the tax payer to tume of several thousand billions of LKR.

0 11

Balapala Fernando Tuesday, 25 November 2025 07:25 AM

GoRa gave him a pin chance to the parliament! When the Pina came in he resigned! Now?

0 7

Gabriella Tuesday, 25 November 2025 08:16 AM

This is an early April Fools joke. Sri Lankan Airlines needs industry proficient and suitably qualified management. Perera like Nimal Siripala wouldn't know the difference between a tractor and an aircraft. This is another disaster in the making. Sri Lankans have proved their incompetence at Airline management ad nauseum. We don't need another exercise in futility.

0 6

peter steck Tuesday, 25 November 2025 09:27 AM

Oh come on!!!! You need an experienced industry expert to lead the airline! Expensive, but necessary if they really want to turn the airline around.

0 5

Sri Lankan CEO Tuesday, 25 November 2025 09:27 AM

Re-appoint the former Emirates appointed CEO that was removed by MR. Mr. Peter Hill is living in SL.

0 9

Kapila Tuesday, 25 November 2025 09:55 AM

What experience does DP have in running an airline. Should get someone with international experience

0 6

wickrama Thursday, 27 November 2025 07:43 AM

DP being a political hack, has no relevant experience for anything. CBK made the mess, which became a disaster with all the two-bit politicians' involvement. Then Mihin was added to it. Keep politics out of it. get a real CEO with experience in the field. The airline has more than enough passengers to make it a success. Let Basil and DP start their own airline or a bullock cart business.

1 2

ajith Thursday, 27 November 2025 11:37 AM

Sarath Ganegoda is not doing a proper job. Sure. He needs to be removed.

0 3

Rajan V Pillai Saturday, 29 November 2025 09:41 AM

Cannot the opinion maker recollect that Mr. Dhammika Perera was the Chairman and responsible for the Collapse of the Sri Lankan Airlines by terminating Emirates Deal.

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