SriLankan Airlines appoints new Board of Directors

By Charumini de Silva

The Government has appointed a new Board of Directors for national carrier SriLankan Airlines headed by veteran banker and former Industries and Constitutional Affairs Ministry Secretary Ranjit Fernando. 

Other members of the Board are Mano Tittawella, Susantha Katugampala, Dr. Roshan Perera and Air Marshal Kapila Jayampathi.

The Daily FT learns that the new Board will assume duties today (3 April).

The new Board was appointed following the resignation of the previous Board of Directors, which comprised former Chairman Ajith N. Dias, Rajan Brito, Chanaka de Silva, Mahinda Haradasa, Rakhita Jayawardena, Niranjan De Silva Deva Aditya and Harendra K. Balapatabendi.

The resignation of the Board was anticipated soon after President Maithripala Sirisena decided, in early February, to appoint a five-member Presidential Commission to investigate allegations of fraud and corruption in the national carrier SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering Ltd and Mihin Lanka Ltd, during the 12-year period starting from 01 January 2006 to 31 January 2018.

The new Board has been tasked with implementing the restructuring plan overseen by the Cabinet-appointed Ministerial Committee, headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The plan is expected to be approved by the Cabinet this week.