In Sri Lanka, the government has decided not to divest its stake in Sri Lankan Airlines. Local Media outlets quoted the Chairman of the NPP Economic Council, Prof. Anil Jayantha who said that the government believes in retaining the national carrier with the state given its significance for the development of tourism. 

 

 

 

The previous government had planned the sale process of the national carrier through the State Owned Enterprises Restructuring Unit in which six entities had submitted bids. 

The International Monetary Fund had singled out Sri Lankan Airlines for restructuring when granting the island a 2.9 billion dollar bailout last year. The airline owed more than 2.0 billion dollars at the end of the 2022 and is considered among the biggest loss making state Owned enterprise.