President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said that SriLankan Airlines has incurred cumulative losses amounting to Rs. 528 billion since 2008, following the termination of its partnership with Emirates.

Speaking during the 2027 Budget Speech in Parliament today (November 12), the President said the losses followed the decision by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to end the partnership, allegedly over a personal issue.

The Emirates management agreement ended in March 2008, after a 10-year partnership, with the Sri Lankan Government taking over the management of the national carrier.