By Saman Indrajith

Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma told Parliament yesterday (25) that SriLankan Airlines was in debt due to political interference under previous governments.

Answering a question raised by Anuradhapura District SJB MP Rohana Bandara, Dr. Suriyapperuma said that such interference had resulted in an ongoing case in international courts.

Dr. Suriyapperuma stated that SriLankan Airlines had earned notoriety for corruption not only here but also abroad.

“Currently, there is an ongoing case in an international court over claims that commissions were sought in respect of the purchase of aircraft. Aircraft have been leased at exorbitant rates, far beyond prevailing market rates,” he said, adding that the actions and decisions of past regimes over the last few decades regarding SriLankan Airlines must be taken into account when examining its debt.

Outlining the measures taken by the government to tackle the staggering debt, the Deputy Minister of Finance said that a five-year programme would be implemented from 2025 to 2030.

Dr. Suriyapperuma explained that despite the allocation of Rs. 20 billion from the 2025 Budget for SriLankan Airlines, the funds would not be utilised for the airline’s operational expenses. Instead, the management had been tasked with transforming it into a self-sustaining entity. Discussions had already begun with relevant stakeholders to restructure the debt, which includes loans obtained in US dollars.

Dr. Suriyapperuma revealed that SriLankan Airlines had been paying USD 900,000 per month in installments for three aircraft that had remained unused for several years. He added that the national carrier currently owned a total of 22 aircraft and employed 3,194 staff members in its main airline operations, along with 2,862 employees in its strategic business units.

Dr. Suriyapperuma also highlighted that the Ministry was currently evaluating those plans, with the expectation of achieving operational profitability and securing government support within the five-year period.

Suriyapperuma assured that measures would be taken to address SriLankan Airlines’ debt without burdening the public.

… Easter Sunday carnage suspects among them

The government has issued a gazette extending the ban on several Tamil diaspora groups, alleging they supported “terrorism-related activities,” The Tamil Guardian has reported.

The gazette, signed by Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (retd.) Sampath Thuyyakontha, declared that these organisations have “repeatedly provided financial support for terrorism.” As a result, their financial and economic assets remain frozen, and Sri Lankans are prohibited from having any contact with them. Those that do risk being arrested.

The list also reaffirms the ban on 222 individuals allegedly linked to terrorism.

The organisations blacklisted by the Sri Lankan government include:

*  Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

*  Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO)

*  Tamil Coordinating Committee (TCC)

*  World Tamil Movement (WTM)

*  Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE)

*  World Tamil Relief Fund (WTRF)

*  National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT)

*  Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO)

Other organisations listed include several linked to Islamic groups, such as the National Towhead Jema’ah (NTJ) and the Sri Lanka Islamic Student Movement (SLISM).

The Tamil Guardian reported that successive Sri Lankan governments have used terrorism laws to ban Tamil organisations that continue to function openly and legally in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and throughout Europe. This ban, however, stifles links between these diaspora organisations and Tamils, making it a criminal offence for Sri Lankan citizens to maintain contact with them.

The reposition of the ban follows a pattern seen in previous years. In 2024, Sri Lanka renewed its prohibition of Tamil diaspora organisations, days after India extended its own ban on the LTTE. The move was widely condemned as politically motivated and an attempt to justify Sri Lanka’s military presence in the “Tamil homeland”.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) on Tuesday said that 7,258 persons from 2,295 families, in the Ratnapura and Kalutara districts,were facing drinking water shortages due to the prevailing dry weather.

Ratnapura had also experienced the highest temperature in the country in the 24 hours that ended at 9 am on Tuesday, the Met Department said.

Director General of the DMC, Major General (retd.) Udaya Herath said that they were providing drinking water to the affected families using trucks carrying water.

The DMC said that dry weather was prevailing across the country and the public had to remain hydrated.

However, despite the dry weather, tanks used for irrigation had adequate water until May 2025, the Irrigation Department said.

Deputy Director – Weather Forecasting and Early Warning, M.M.P Mendis, told the media on Tuesday that Sri Lanka received very little rain in the months of February and March. However, the Department expected rains to commence from yesterday in some parts of the country.