SriLankan Airlines has reported a substantial loss of USD 6 million attributed to recent flight delays. Minister of Ports and Aviation, Nimal Siripala De Silva, announced this development today, shedding light on the financial impact of these disruptions.

Minister De Silva revealed that the airline's losses were directly linked to the recent delays experienced in eight flights, which caused substantial inconvenience to passengers and incurred significant financial repercussions. These delays have come at a challenging time for the airline, further exacerbated by the ongoing economic constraints.

He emphasized the grim financial reality by stating that, under the current circumstances, there is no room for granting allowances or salary increases to the airline's employees. This statement underscores the financial strain that SriLankan Airlines is currently facing.

In response to these challenges, Minister De Silva unveiled a strategic decision aimed at mitigating losses and safeguarding the interests of SriLankan Airlines. The plan involves allowing other airlines to operate some of the carrier's flights under the '5th freedom of the air' framework. This measure is intended to optimize flight operations and minimize losses while still preserving the rights and integrity of SriLankan Airlines.

Recent times have seen a series of flight delays and cancellations by SriLankan Airlines, often attributed to technical or other operational issues. These disruptions have caused inconvenience to travelers and financial losses to the national carrier.

In light of these setbacks, SriLankan Airlines publicly extended its apologies to affected passengers in the recent past, acknowledging the impact of these flight interruptions. However, the airline now faces the challenging task of overcoming these operational hurdles and navigating the complex aviation landscape to regain its financial stability.