Three grounded SriLankan aircraft to be put to service by April: Bimal

Monday, 27 January 2025 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Ports, Aviation, Transport and Highways Minister makes first visit to CAA

Text and pix by T.K.G Kapila

Ports, Aviation, Transport and Highways Minister Bimal Ratnayake on Saturday said that three of the grounded aircraft of SriLankan Airlines will be put into service by April.

“The Government has already taken steps to bring in an engine for one of these aircraft and commence flights. The remaining two aircraft are being prepared to be fitted with new engines and added to air services by April,” said Minister Ratnayake during his first inspection tour of and meeting with the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka.

He recalled that that three SriLankan Airlines aircraft lacked the necessary engines, and that they were unable to take off, and had been grounded, paying a monthly lease fee of $ 900,000 for the past three years, and that these were steps taken by the previous Government to destroy and close SriLankan.

The Minister also said that information has been received that a number of foreign aviation companies have defaulted on paying taxes owed to the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka in the past year.

He said that in a few years, an economy should be created that will allow parents to fly their children to the neighbouring Maldives or India by the time they turn 15.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka Chairman Sunil Jayaratne, and a group of senior officials were also present at the event.

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