Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera today issued a gazette notification placing SriLankan Airlines under his State Minister Eran Wickremaratne. 

SrILankan Airlines was brought under the control of the Finance Ministry last week through a gazette notification by President Maithripala Sirisena. 

The national carrier was not included in the first gazette issued by the President allocating subjects among ministries, which was issued after the appointment of the current Cabinet. 

The national carrier ran into staggering losses over the past few years and became a major source of burden for the Treasury. 

Wickremaratne also chaired a committee appointed by President Sirisena earlier this year to present recommendations on the revival of the airline.