Sri Lankan Air Chairman resigns

Mr. Sarath Ganegoda, who served as the Chairman of SriLankan Airlines and SriLankan Catering, has resigned from his post effective March 31.

Accordingly, Mr. A.K.D.D. Dimal Arandara has been appointed as the acting chairman of both institutions until a new chairman is appointed by the Secretary to the Treasury. During this upcoming transitional period, he will fully oversee the operations and administrative functions of the respective institutions until new appointments are made. Concurrently, it is reported that Mr. Rohan Gunatilleke, who was a board member of SriLankan Airlines and SriLankan Catering companies, has also stepped down from his positions.

Meanwhile, with the resignation of Mr. Sarath Ganegoda, opposition Member of Parliament Dr. Harsha de Silva has expressed his strong concern regarding the governance of the national airline and potential conflicts of interest. The MP stated that this appointment was problematic from the outset, alleging that due to business interests in aviation, logistics, and related sectors, not only Mr. Ganegoda but also senior executives connected to Hayleys company faced severe professional conflicts.

Further focusing on the broader governance issues surrounding the national airline, Dr. de Silva also questioned the involvement of Presidential Advisor Mr. Duminda Hulangamuwa and the audit firm Ernst & Young (EY). Stating that he would refrain from further comment on this matter as some might accuse him of bias, he nevertheless urged other parties to independently investigate the issue.

In light of this crisis, Dr. Harsha de Silva particularly commended Presidential Advisor Mr. Hans Wijayasuriya for resigning from all his private sector positions before assuming his advisory role. He further emphasized that this was the most correct and transparent course of action anyone should follow to prevent conflicts of interest.