Affairs of Sri Lankan Airlines could be turned around using local expertise – former CAA chair

The financial affairs of national carrier Sri Lankan Airlines could be turned around along with the fortunes of Mattala Airport, using local management expertise without divesting these assets, former chairman CAA and veteran travel and tourism expert Upul Dharmadasa said.

“Sri Lanka has experts and knowledgeable persons to develop Sri Lankan Airlines into a viable entity. But when it comes to the debt restructuring process the government should absorb the losses to salvage our national carrier, former chairman Civil Aviation Authority Upul Dharmadasa told The Island Financial Review.

Speaking on Mattala Airport Dharmadasa said that during the Covid 19 pandemic he spearhead the airlines’ operations to bring more than 138,000 Sri Lankans back into the country. “At that time Mattala Airport functioned as a second international airport and it assisted the government in managing Covid patients in a more systematic way, he said.

Dharmadasa added: ‘Further, Mattala Airport’s 12 anniversary falls today. It falls on the government to develop it as the second international airport. It could attract large aircraft.

“We need to deploy proper and qualified persons to streamline the entire process.

“I have been in the airline industry for more than four decades. The number of airline arrivals in the country and departures from it have come down considerably after Covid 19 pandemic.

“In this scenario, Sri Lankan Airlines should focus on launching new flights to US and Canada. Together they account for more than 1.4 million Sri Lankan diaspora members who fly to Sri Lanka.

“Sri Lankan Airlines should resume Rome flights as well, which is a lucrative market. Apart from that Sri Lankan Airlines should focus on new destinations, wherein they could sell tickets and attract huge revenue to the airline.

“The airline should have 25 aircraft to offer uninterrupted services to air travelers but at present it has only 23 aircraft.”

By Hiran H Senewiratne