Obtaining old aircraft on lease will not do any good to national carrier: Opposition MP

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

Obtaining an old aircraft on lease and making it fly around the country will not do any good to the national carrier which is already hampered with heavy losses, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Nalinda Bandara Jayamaha said in response to Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake who claimed that people are impressed with the new aircraft.

“Do you have a plan to revive the national carrier?” MP Jayamaha questioned.   

“You talk much but do very little,” he added.   

Minister Ratnayake said SriLankan Airlines has to pay only a USD 275,000 monthly fee for the new aircraft which was obtained on a dry lease by SriLankan Airlines from France.  

He said it is not a big amount when compared to the revenue generated from an Airbus.   

The Minister said SriLankan Airlines still pays USD 800,000 monthly due to the Airbus deal of the Rajapaksa regime, whereas SriLankan received no Airbus in the deal.   

He said the Rajapaksa government defrauded millions by striking the Airbus deal while the Ranil Wickremesinghe government defrauded on the other hand in cancelling the deal.