Sri Lanka’s Government is expected to appoint a new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for SriLankan Airlines soon, Aviation Minister Anura Kuranathilake said.
The Minister said interviews for the appointment of a new CEO are currently underway, with several groups already being assessed.
He noted that additional candidates are expected to face interviews before a shortlist is prepared for the final selection process.
“We hope to appoint the new CEO very soon,” he said.
Speaking on the delay in appointments, the Minister admitted that SriLankan Airlines currently operates without both a Chairman and a CEO.
He said previous proposals for the Chairman’s position had been considered but could not proceed due to various reasons.
However, he revealed that a “very good proposal” has now been received for the Chairman post.
The Minister also acknowledged that the Government had initially attempted to revive the airline while retaining full State ownership, in line with earlier remarks made by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
But he said the Government has now concluded that a different approach is required, leading to the decision to pursue a public-private partnership model for the airline. (Newswire)