SriLankan Airlines seeks a new CEO

National carrier,

SriLankan Airlines has begun an early search for a new

Chief Executive

Officer (CEO), placing an advertisement in a local newspaper and calling for applications for such a position.

Current CEO Vipula

Gunatilleka, who was appointed in August

2018, is due to relinquish duties by

January 2020, sources at the national carrier told the Business Times.

Like most global airlines, the national carrier has been struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic with growing losses due to a lower passenger loads and fewer flights.

This week the airline announced a revenue loss of 70 percent in the 2020/21 financial year ending March 31.

According to its last 31st March 2019 to 1st April 2020 annual report, the airline reported a loss of US$128.9 million compared to US$178 million in the previous corresponding year.

The airline depends on tourist traffic which has been reduced to a trickle due to a combination of restrictions on outbound travel in most of Europe, Sri Lanka’s biggest tourism source market, and Asia.

Tourist arrivals in January to June 2021 dropped sharply to 16,908 compared to 507,704 in the same period in 2020.

According to its last 31st March 2019 to 1st April 2020 annual report, the airline reported a loss of US$128.9 million compared to US$178 million in the previous corresponding year.