Dimal Arandara appointed chairman of loss-making SriLankan Airlines 

By Nishel Fernando 

A. K. D. D. Dimal Arandara has been appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of SriLankan Airlines Limited with immediate effect. 

An internal communiqué circulated within the national carrier confirmed that the top-level appointment was made with the direct concurrence of the President. 

He assumes leadership of the state-owned airline during a period of intense public scrutiny, as the carrier continues to grapple with severe financial challenges and a prolonged executive transition following the resignation of former Chairman Sarath Ganegoda earlier this year.

The appointment comes at a highly contentious time for the loss-making institution, which has recently faced heavy criticism over reports that it is seeking an additional Rs. 100 billion in state funding. 

Opposition voices have strongly condemned the continued financial drain the airline places on the national treasury, questioning the logic of pumping further public funds into a chronically struggling enterprise without a credible, transparent turnaround strategy. 

The request for the massive capital injection has sparked alarm over fiscal recklessness, highlighting the deep structural and governance issues repeatedly plaguing the carrier.

Compounding the airline’s governance crisis is a prolonged executive vacuum, with the critical position of Chief Executive Officer remaining permanently unfilled for over a year. 

Online records and industry reports confirm that following the departure of former CEO Richard Nuttall in April 2025, the daily operations of the carrier have been managed under interim arrangements, with Yasantha Dissanayake serving as Acting CEO. 

The failure to secure a full-time chief executive despite multiple recruitment rounds has fueled ongoing concerns over the lack of long-term strategic direction. Industry observers point out that navigating volatile global challenges without confirmed top-tier leadership severely undermines the airline’s ability to execute a meaningful turnaround or restore public confidence. 

Arandara brings a background in public finance to the role, having previously served as a senior official from the Ministry of Finance and as the Treasury Representative on the airline’s board.