Maintaining Srilankan Airlines and our pride cost tax payers US$ 150 million a year – Minister

Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva said today (14) that the government was in difficulty as it had made a mistake by providing US$ 150 million each year to maintain Srilankan Airlines and the nation’s pride.

The minister made this statement at an event organised  by the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) in collaboration with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) themed ‘Sri Lanka Aviation day’  to provide a unique platform for industry leaders, policy makers and stakeholders to come together, share insights and develop strategies to develop and rebuild the aviation industry in Sri Lanka.

“Most other countries were compelled to provide money to keep their national carriers in the sky and we made the same mistake” he reiterated.