Sunday Dec 22, 2024
Sunday Dec 22, 2024
Tuesday, 28 December 2021 02:50 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) yesterday said the issue pertaining to the foreign currency remittances to airline principals abroad had been taken up by the Finance Ministry.
“The airlines collectively informed the authority that the banks were not permitting wire transactions for foreign currency payments. Following a few rounds of discussions, the matter was then taken up with the Finance Ministry about two months ago. We were informed that the Treasury officials will speak to the airlines to resolve the situation,” CAA Chairman Upul Dharmadasa told the Daily FT.
Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle had also attended the meeting held with airline regulatory officials and industry representatives, the Daily FT learns.
“We have no objection in remitting a certain percentage of foreign currency back to airline principals, as that is how the business operates,” he pointed out.
Dharmadasa said the issue is now in the hands of the Finance Ministry and they have not been informed on the developments thereafter.
When asked if they had received notices from airlines operating into Colombo to reduce frequencies, the Chairman confirmed that they have not so far.
On Sunday, the airlines said discussions with relevant authorities over the forex issue were continuing whilst the industry had expanded capacity in tandem with tourism revival.
Emirates, Qatar Airways, Fly Dubai, Air India, Gulf Air, Rossiya Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Saudia, Air Arabia, Oman Airlines, Air Asia, Air France, Etihad Airways, Jazeera Airways, IndiGo, Aeroflot, China Eastern Airlines, Edelweiss Air, Kuwait Airways, Azur Airlines, Air Astana, Lot Polish Airlines, Neos Airlines and Vistara Airlines are currently operating into Colombo.
Pre-pandemic, 37 international airlines operated to Sri Lanka, and the Tourism Ministry is actively engaged in negotiations with all the airlines that operated into the country pre-COVID to encourage them to resume operations, whilst also engaging to attract new markets via charter flights during the winter season.
