• SLNSS urges authorities to consider CBK-era Emirates proposal, and to leave Catering & Ground Handling untouched
• No official intimation by investors, says Aviation Min. Secy. 

Following local and international media reports claiming that investors, such as Emirates, Tata Sons, and the Adani Group, are interested in the SriLankan Airlines, the SriLankan Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya (SLNSS) has said that they will only endorse the proposal if the Government does not privatise profit-making sections of the airline under the guise of bankruptcy. 

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (12), SLNSS President Janaka Wijayapathirathna said that no investor has held proper discussions with the Government so far despite numerous reports that Emirates and two other Indian business moguls are seeking to convince the Government to get the national carrier into their hands. He said that according to sources within the Ministry of Aviation, the Adani Group is interested in the Bandaranaike International Airport but not the SriLankan Airlines since the group mainly focuses on airports and harbours.

Speaking further, he said that they do not consider who the investor is but that the Government must keep 51% of the shares while giving the other party 49% of the shares. He also said that they will agree with any proposal submitted by the Government if it follows a programme which is similar to the SriLankan Airlines privatisation plan implemented by the Government under former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in the 1990s. “We clearly stated that we agree with privatising the airline if it submits a proposal similar to that which was prepared by the Kumaratunga Government when they gave the airline to Emirates. But there were some conditions such as Emirates not being accountable to Parliament. Such conditions must not be included in this proposal,” he said.

However, Wijayapathirathna alleged that the subject minister (attorney Nimal Siripala de Silva) is attempting to privatise the profit-making sections of the airline under the guise of bankruptcy, which, he deemed, is unnecessary.  “The whole airline is not bankrupt. The Catering and Ground Handling sections make profits. But the minister plans to privatise all these sections claiming that it is not possible to privatise the airline section-wise,” he said.

Meanwhile, Secretary to the Ministry K.D.S. Ruwanchandra said that no investor has officially informed the Government so far that they are willing to invest in SriLankan Airlines.