Official spokesperson Rajitha Senaratne faced a barrage of questions on the two airlines at the weekly news conference on Wednesday. Here are excerpts:
Q: Mihin Lanka is to be liquidated. Its debt amounts to more than Rs 4,868 million. It owes the People’s Bank Rs 1,100 million. The loans for SriLankan is Rs 1,500 million. What will happen to this debt?
A: These are loans from State banks and need to be paid. Only yesterday it was revealed that among the first Board of Directors have been Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Roshan Gunatilleke and Sajin Vass Gunawardena. Aircraft have been purchased without any tender procedures. Our government has been forced to take the burden of this debt.
Q: Are you looking into the reasons for the losses. It was mentioned that a Commission was being appointed
A: Without any feasibility report, the company was launched on a political decision. They appointed political henchmen. Going by the Board of Directors you can see this. They are not even those who tightened a nut in the aircraft. How can they make profits?
Q: Have you decided to appoint a Commission?
A: That was also discussed yesterday (Tuesday), about the appointment of a Commission.
Q: Will the licence be given to another agency.
A: That will remain open. After discussions in Qatar (during the President’s recent visit), a representative from there came here on Saturday itself. The discussions were concluded on Sunday and he returned on Monday saying he would return in two weeks’ time”.
There were also other significant issues that came up for discussion at last Tuesday’s weekly ministerial meeting.