📈 SriLankan Airlines: Restructuring & Leadership Update

The NPP administration has reaffirmed its decision to maintain SriLankan Airlines under State ownership, despite its long-standing status as a significant fiscal burden. The government is currently navigating a critical financial restructuring while searching for a new CEO to steer the crisis-ridden national carrier. • Financial Performance & Debt • Accumulated Losses: Total losses have reached a staggering Rs. 628.3 Bn (provisional data suggests this increased to Rs. 631.5 Bn by late 2025). • Quarterly Loss: The group reported a loss of Rs. 10.7 Bn for the three months ending June 2025. • State Support: The 2025 Budget allocated Rs. 20 Bn for debt servicing. The Treasury plans a Rs. 100 Bn equity injection over five years to restructure the airline's debt. • Capital Infusion: A recent Rs. 25.2 Bn capital infusion (Dec 2025) was utilized to clear outstanding state bank debt. • Leadership Transition • CEO Search: Received 200 applications for the CEO post, with 75 candidates currently shortlisted. • Criteria: The government seeks a "visionary leader" with 10+ years of senior international airline management experience. • Current Debate: Discussions continue on whether to appoint a foreign expert (like former CEOs Richard Nuttall or Peter Hill) for objectivity or a local professional to ensure national interest and cost-efficiency. • Regional Context • Unlike Sri Lanka’s state-led approach, neighboring nations are divesting: Air India was reacquired by Tata Group, and Pakistan recently privatized Pakistan International Airlines.