SriLankan Airlines losses down 60% in 1H

With effective planning and financial discipline coming into place, national carrier SriLankan Airlines has managed to reduce its losses by almost 60% during the first six months of the year.

The airline recorded a Rs. 32 billion loss last year.

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday said that with the will of the people after 18 August, there would be a complete revolution in the processes of the national carrier.

“It will fly where it is supposed to fly, bring tourists from where it has got to bring them and not fly around the world for the sake of flying.  We will bring that financial discipline in.”

He said the overstaffing at the national carrier would be addressed while the two airlines - SriLankan and Mihin – would be amalgamated into one.

“It will have its budget airline in a different concept, but certainly we will ensure that we will be having a thriving cargo and passenger operation,” he explained. 

Karunanayake added: “The opportunity was there but we were flying in the wrong direction.”