SriLankan Airlines on course from ‘Red to Black’

The winners with SriLankan Airlines’ pro-tem CEO Rakhita Jayawardena and the members of the senior management team

With the aim of turning SriLankan Airlines into a profit making venture, the airline has launched a company-wide interactive campaign titled ‘Red to Black’ where the senior management of the airline has invited the airline’s staff to share their innovative ideas and thoughts on initiatives that can be taken to reduce losses and optimise cost as the airline seeks to make progressive steps towards profitability. 

The campaign was initiated to foster closer relationship with the staff and make a collective effort to drive the company towards its financial targets. 

The HR Division of SriLankan Airlines launched the ‘Red to Black Campaign’ last month and the first batch of staff who shared their ideas and thoughts through the campaign were given a certificate of appreciation in recognition of the commitment and the efforts they have invested towards supporting the management’s vision in taking the company forward. The ideas sent by the staff were discussed and analysed by the senior management of the airline and they have shortlisted the most cost-effective and feasible ideas to be implemented in near future. 

This is a brainchild of Rakhita Jayawardena, the pro-tem Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Airlines. Sharing his thoughts on the program, Jayawardena noted: “When the new management took over in February, we were faced with the challenging task of reversing the adverse financial situation and making gradual progress towards reducing our losses. The ‘Red to Black Campaign’ was initiated as an effort to create company-wide awareness and collectively drive the airline towards its financial targets. Credit should go to the airline’s staff as they are working with one purpose and one direction to realise the financial targets set by the senior management.”

Commenting on the program, Pradeepa Kekulawala, Head of Human Resources of SriLankan Airlines, stated: “We were able to gather valuable input from the Bright Ideas campaign launched by the HR Division last year on the theme of ‘Earn more, spend less, waste not’ and the airline’s latest initiative, ‘Red to Black Campaign’ has taken employee engagement to a higher level than before.” 

The management of SriLankan Airlines strongly believes that with the commitment and dedication of its staff and the Government’s support, the airline can reverse the current financial circumstances and achieve its financial targets, as the airline strives to drive towards profitability.