The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member. I am pleased to speak on the Second Reading of the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill. While focusing on transport, we must also consider aviation. SriLankan Airlines is running at a loss. As per Dr. Harsha de Silva, Chair of COPA, the first quarter alone recorded an Rs. 3.4 billion loss. Broadly, SriLankan Airlines carries around USD 1 billion in debt.

¶ 02 Some on the Government side call this a “76-year curse.” But how did we get here? From 2002–2004 our Government integrated the airline with Emirates under the SriLankan brand, removing the Treasury’s burden. By 2018–2019, per-capita debt from SriLankan alone had exceeded Rs. 150,000—without most ever boarding a plane. Ordinary villagers became indebted due to this loss-making entity.

¶ 03 In 2008 the Rajapaksa administration expelled Emirates after an incident where the then CEO Peter Hill refused to offload already-booked passengers to accommodate a large presidential entourage on a London–Colombo flight, offering to carry the President and security while re-accommodating the rest on the next flight. That triggered the split. So let us not talk about “76-year curses.”

¶ 04 Recently, an old aircraft leased from Garuda Indonesia—about 13–14 years old—was paraded countrywide. Traditional water-salute customs aside, even the wipers were not working during a spray. But the core issue is Government policy: What is the plan for SriLankan Airlines? Will we continue to pile debt on the public? Can the airline move forward? Is there a strategic partner, consolidation with another carrier, or privatization? We need clarity, not mere showcases.

¶ 05 Catching thieves and enforcing the law is good, but development requires money in people’s hands, business growth, and financial-sector support. Grand promises were made—affordable cars and more—but what tangible progress is there? On KDU’s medical faculty, sudden decisions harm students and push them overseas at greater cost. We need more quality universities, not closures. Our past mistakes over institutions like SAITM cost us opportunities to earn foreign exchange; let us not repeat them.

¶ 06 We also note new appointments at SriLankan, including a CEO/Chair from the private sector; expertise is welcome, but Parliament needs to hear the concrete plan. There are 9,000 employees; their welfare matters, but funded by whose money? Ultimately, by 22 million citizens. We must end loss-making routes, restructure debt, and present a credible turnaround or partnership strategy. Parading an old aircraft won’t fill people’s stomachs. Thank you.