Business tycoon Harry Jayawardene has tied up with two of Japan’s leading airlines to make a bid for SriLankan Airlines.

Accordingly, Japan’s All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines have teamed up with Harry Jayawardene to acquire a 49% stake in Sri Lankan Airlines.

The bid comes amid interest expressed by Emirates Airlines, which previously handled management of SriLankan Airlines.

The government is looking for an entity with which to tie up to manage SriLankan airlines in a Private-Public Partnership (PPP).