Rohan Gunasekera / colombo
Sri Lanka is considering allowing domestic airlines to operate international passenger services that are currently the monopoly of the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines. The cabinet is also being asked to lift the ban on domestic air travel services by private operators, says civil aviation minister Tilak Marapana.
Private domestic flights were banned more than two years ago for security reasons after intelligence reports that Tamil Tiger guerrillas planned to hijack aircraft for suicide attacks on government leaders and military facilities. The security climate has now changed, with both sides observing a truce and preparing to resume peace talks to end the civil war.
Marapana says the government wants to renegotiate the privatisation agreement under which Emirates acquired a 40% equity stake and management control of SriLankan Airlines and conduct bilateral talks with other countries on obtaining landing rights for private domestic operators. Private domestic airlines might be allowed to operate on routes not used by SriLankan Airlines, he says.
Marapana last month announced that the government would review the SriLankan privatisation deal which he says has probably "created a monopolistic situation" that hinder efforts to develop the industry. The government wants an "open skies" policy, he says.
According to a cabinet directive, the civil aviation authority must seek cabinet approval to give licences to other domestic operators for international passenger flights, effectively giving SriLankan a monopoly on such services.
Source: Flight International
