Public Enterprise Development Deputy Minister Eran Wickramaratne replying to a question by Joint Opposition member Mahindananda Aluthgamage as to why it was decided to return the A350 aircraft, said the aircraft were decided to be bought at the former Speaker’s Official Residence. “I have to reveal that the aircraft were decided to be bought at the former Speaker’s Official Residence,” the deputy minister said in Parliament yesterday.
The loss of SriLankan Airlines during the last 10 years was Rs. 140 billion, Wickramaratne said.
The deputy minister made this observation in response to a question by Aluthgamage during the Committee Stage Debate held on Budget proposals under the financial heads of the Industry and Commerce Ministry, Public Enterprise Development Ministry and Primary Industries Ministry.
He said as Aluthgamage said SriLankan Airlines had a marketing plan. “But it was not one that could be realised,” the deputy minister said. “Their plan was to compete with the Europe aviation industry and win the Middle East aviation industry. Even very strong industries could not do it.”
He said the loss of SriLankan Airlines during the last 10 years was Rs. 140 billion.
The deputy minister said that at least one third of it has not been allocated for the education of the children of this country. “You are talking on public enterprises,” Wickramaratne said. “But large amounts of tax have to be imposed increasing the existing tax burden on the people. We can’t allow this. We have to think of the people.”
The deputy minister also said Shamindra Rajapaksa joined SriLankan Airlines on August 24, 2009 and left on February 12, 2015. “I don’t want to talk of the relations of Shamindra Rajapaksa,” he said.
Deputy Minister Wickramaratne said the opposition was slinging mud at the Prime Minister’s adviser Charitha Ratwatte. He said Ratwatte hadn’t robbed a penny from the people.
Wickramaratne said one A350 aircraft was leased and US$ 1.4 million had to be a paid a month.
The income is lesser than one million and the loss each month is US$ 0.5 million. The loss for a year is US$ 6 million. “The total loss in 12 years is US$ 72 million,” the deputy minister said. “Eight such aircraft have been leased. As such erroneous decisions were taken, we had to take corrective measures.” He said the question posed by Aluthgamage was correct.
“I too raised the same question as to why it was cancelled paying US$ 98 million. But it was correct and had been done on the approval of the management board,” the deputy minister said.