Not only that, there is significant potential if tapping in to the Indonesia-Gulf labor traffic.

4R-ALN is now in the paint hangar

some leaked pics from Pakistan forum

Govt. to discuss EOIs for SriLankan with partners by Jan 2017

The Government will be discussing with potential partners for SriLankan Airlines interested in its restructure by next January after sorting out the Expressions of Interest (EOI). ”We extended the EOIs’ closing date till end of this month. By about end of September to October we’ll be collecting the EOIs. Once we go through them, we aim to have serious discussions with the potential partners by January next year,” Eran Wickramaratne, Deputy Minister Public Enterprise Development told the Business Times. The ministry ran adverts in national newspapers last month calling for EOI in the national carrier. Meantime Public Enterprise Development Minister Kabir Hashim said they anticipate more offers apart from the eight they already got.

“The response is encouraging.” He was quoted in the media recently as saying that Japan’s ANA is interested in the national carrier. Sources said that a Chinese and a Middle Eastern carrier have also expressed interest, but both ministers couldn’t confirm this. Mr. Wickramaratne said that on Thursday the IMF had a progress meeting on the status of the airline along with NSB, which is coordinating the financial advisory to restructure it and financial and transaction advisors – BNP Paribas and KPMG. “The IMF, as is the practice, had an airline specialist for this meeting.” He added that the airline’s ground handling unit will be valued separately. “Going forward, we’ll be separating this unit,” he added.

They were never cancelling it in the 1st place. It is only temporary due to the BIA daytime runway closure from Jan - March 2016

Well said Rajitha!

Last gov added 7 brand new A330s to SriLankan Airlines.... Just over one year of yahapalanaya and look what's happening now... What a turnaround...



source: - planespotterspakistan

This question is for MR's BIL on how many years he signed the lease agreement for with the leasing company...leasing company needs the money not the aircraft

7 aircraft at what cost? with a 30% premium on the lease cost with a "free" VIP kit

its funny some guys are still trying to defend previous government who ruined our Airline.
And if you murded some one you have to hear this in whole life you as a murder. and its same with Mahinda maama. he is the main reponsible person for the downfall of Srilankan airline.
dont try to defend him bitches.

(Sigh) it has been 20 month nothing happened why the new administration does has not fix everything why everyone blaming everything on the previous administration, can’t they stop blame and fix it using that silver bullet (Sigh) I was thinking if I should reply or ignore. Well then I remembered the Jon Stewart's War on the bullshit need to continue http://time.com/3988497/jon-stewart-...rant-bullshit/ so hear it goes without self-censoring. Some people head is so up in MR's ar** they cannot see any light or facts or reality. It does not matter what the reality is they still hold on to this narrative that dear leader cannot do any wrong. He is so perfect. He build such a beautiful airport, a port, cricket stadium, he got new aircrafts...he gave so many jobs in UL, Colombo airport, Colombo Port even Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. Yes at what cost??? Well for them it does not matter. GOSL have money or Govt should find the money...it is not a problem and conveniently ignored...like bunch of lemmings similar to ones which follows an orange man with a funny hair in US...
and they tried to equate him to this man https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veGZqyzyygY

Well I am not a UNPer or SLFPer or a Sri Lankan. But my heritage is

Current administration cannot change Sri Lanka within 20 month. in case of UL they are holding onto a tiger's tail.

Sri Lanka's rot started nearly 70 years ago. Yes since independence...it just got hyper accelerated within last 6 years and now trying to decelerate (Yes that includes RW and MS administration as well).
How come SIA and EK doing so well. Well they have a good administration, money (well not poor), Rule of law and disciplined. So what is wrong with UL. Simple they do not have any of the above and the Sri Lankan society itself need to change. For that they need to look inwards.

This is not a game of Cards

The thing about adding new planes or other building all things glitzy is either you have to have money to pay for them or have a sound of payback plan for them or care in not burdening the country with unbearable debt.

If the only plan is to impress a few voters in all that is glittering and new and your only over-driving ambition is to siphon off as much money and hold onto power then you are going to fall flat on your face soon.

Well MR didn't bring 2 overpriced Boeing 747-200s to the fleet in the 80's which made absolutely no economical sense............it was the Yankee loving regimes of Jaya and Prema

Our airline was raped by every government and Wahapalanaya did the same by sending off brand new A330s to PIA to earn some pocket money.........oh wait, why would they do that?? They are really honest. They are just paying off the debt of the previous regime.

Corruption has always been a part of our culture ever since independence unfortunately, but no regime can the match the scale of the last one (and hopefully never in the future).

The previous news article seem to indicate that IMF is involved now at least hopefully that will help prevent some of the large scale rot.

UL wet lease 4 of it's brand new A330 - 300 to PIA to cover up the penalty cause by the cancellation of the A350's. Also the current A330-200's still have leasing time until April I guess. So it's a good move to wet lease for 6 month rather than parking at the bay for nothing at all.

Actually they are given that the A330s were apparently leased for over 30% more than the market rate. Probably one of the more sensible decisions made by UL management in recent times.

Both governments have been piss poor in their management of UL although I can't see why you would even bother defending MR's management of UL. If MR had kept EK in, we wouldn't be in this mess.