SriLankan Airlines, finds itself teetering on the brink of permanent grounding following a series of operational setbacks. 

 

Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva, revealed today that the restructuring efforts for the troubled airline have been severely derailed in the aftermath of a ground handling debacle last Sunday. 

 

Speaking at a public discussion, Minister de Silva lamented the dire situation, stating, "The deadline given to potential investors for submitting expressions to partner with the national carrier ends on March 5. The information we have received so far indicates that all interested parties are planning to withdraw their bids following Sunday’s flight delay. We will have no choice but to ground SriLankan Airlines permanently in this scenario." 

 

According to representatives of SriLankan Airlines and its Chairman, Ashok Pathirage, the crisis unfolded with the delay of four flights on Sunday.

 

Two aircraft were found to have rats on board, necessitating chemical treatment and a one-day grounding in accordance with international standards.

 

Additionally, two other flights encountered technical issues, exacerbating the situation. Further compounding the issue was the absence of 15 crucial ground handling staff members. Three employees had applied for leave, while the remaining 12 were absent without formal notification. Minister de Silva demanded decisive action, stating, "Sack those who kept away from work without applying for leave."