SriLankan Airlines appoints Dimal Arandara as chairman as the carrier faces financial pressure, leadership gaps, and calls for Rs. 100 billion in funding.
SriLankan Airlines has appointed K. D. D. Dimal Arandara as Chairman of its Board of Directors with immediate effect, placing a public finance veteran at the helm of the national carrier during one of the most challenging periods in its recent history.
An internal communiqué circulated within the airline confirmed that the appointment received the direct concurrence of the President.
Arandara assumes leadership of the state-owned carrier at a time when the airline remains under intense public scrutiny. The appointment follows the resignation of former Chairman Sarath Ganegoda earlier this year and comes as the company continues to grapple with significant financial difficulties and ongoing leadership challenges.
The latest appointment arrives amid growing controversy surrounding the airline’s future and its long-term financial sustainability.
The loss-making carrier has recently attracted criticism over reports that it is seeking an additional Rs. 100 billion in state funding to support its operations and future plans.
Opposition voices have strongly questioned the continued burden the airline places on public finances, arguing that further taxpayer-funded support should not be provided without a credible and transparent strategy to reverse years of losses.
Critics have also raised concerns about the wisdom of injecting additional public funds into an enterprise that continues to face deep-rooted structural and operational challenges.
The reported request for a substantial capital infusion has intensified debate over fiscal responsibility and corporate governance, while drawing attention to issues that have repeatedly affected the national carrier over the years.
Adding to these concerns is the prolonged leadership uncertainty surrounding the airline’s executive management structure.
The critical position of Chief Executive Officer has remained permanently vacant for more than a year, creating what many observers describe as a significant governance gap at the highest operational level.
Industry reports and publicly available records indicate that since the departure of former CEO Richard Nuttall in April 2025, the airline’s daily operations have continued under interim management arrangements.
During this period, Yasantha Dissanayake has served as Acting Chief Executive Officer while the search for a permanent successor has continued.
The inability to appoint a full-time CEO despite multiple recruitment exercises has fueled ongoing questions about the airline’s strategic direction and long-term planning.
Aviation analysts and industry observers have pointed out that operating in an increasingly competitive and volatile global aviation environment without permanent top-tier executive leadership presents serious challenges.
They argue that navigating rising costs, changing passenger demand, international competition, and broader economic pressures requires stable leadership capable of implementing a comprehensive turnaround strategy.
Many also believe that the absence of a permanent chief executive has undermined efforts to restore public confidence and establish a clear roadmap for the future of the airline.
Against this backdrop, Arandara’s appointment is being viewed as a significant development in the carrier’s efforts to strengthen governance and address long-standing operational concerns.
His professional background is rooted in public finance and government administration.
Prior to taking up the chairmanship, Arandara served as a senior official attached to the Ministry of Finance and also represented the Treasury on the Board of Directors of SriLankan Airlines.
Supporters of the appointment note that his experience in public finance could prove valuable as the airline seeks to address financial pressures, improve governance structures, and manage growing public expectations regarding accountability and performance.
However, observers caution that significant challenges remain.
The airline continues to face financial constraints, questions over future funding requirements, unresolved leadership vacancies, and the broader task of restoring long-term commercial viability.
With renewed public attention focused on the national carrier, Arandara now takes charge at a critical moment, where decisions made in the coming months could play a major role in shaping the future direction of SriLankan Airlines and determining whether the company can finally chart a sustainable path forward.
