New Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe plans to sell the Government-owned Sri Lankan Airlines to stabilise the nation’s finances.
Mr Wickremesinghe’s announcement came a day after he authorised the printing of money in order to pay Government salaries.
Sri Lankan Airlines lost 45 billion rupees ($A180 million) in the year ending March 2021.
The national carrier has a fleet of 25 Airbus SE planes and flies to destinations in Europe, the Middle East as well as South and South-east Asia.
“It should not be that this loss has to be borne by the poorest of the poor who have not set foot in an aircraft,” Mr Wickremesinghe said.
“I have been forced to print money to pay Public Service salaries, which will pressure the nation’s currency,” he said.
“The next couple of months will be the most difficult ones of our lives.”
Mr Wickremesinghe said he planned to establish a national assembly or political body, with the participation of all political parties, to find solutions to the present crisis.
The Prime Minister promised to announce a new ‘relief’ Budget to replace President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ‘development’ Budget that helped stoke Asia’s fast inflation rate.
Mr Wickremesinghe’s appointment followed violent clashes between Government supporters and protesters who were demanding Mr Rajapaksa’s resignation.
The Prime Minister has yet to name a Minister of Finance to lead bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund, and is to seek bridging loans from nations including India and China.
Colombo, 18 May 2022
