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Mihin Air grounded until further notice
Sunday, 4 May 2008 - 12:35 PM SL Time
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The troubled budget carrier Mihin Lanka has been forced to suspend operations indefinitely, from the beginning of this month, for want of aircraft, as exclusively reported in The Sunday Times last week in a story titled Mihin Air craftless? .
Several attempts over the past few days to reach Mihin s head of operations Athula Dissanayake for comment have failed. Mr Dissanayake had left a message to say he could not talk because he was out of the country, but aviation sources said he had returned to the country yesterday.
The carrier s last aircraft, an Airbus A-321 taken on wet lease from BH Air, based in Bulgaria, was reclaimed by its owners on Thursday, with all the aircraft s staff, equipment and stores. It is understood that the cash-strapped carrier, which in its first year of operation was already billions of rupees in debt, was unable to come up with the cash to renew the lease. Mihin began operations in April last year and stopped flying a year later, at the end of last month. Mihin Lanka s controversial CEO Sajin de Vass Gunewardena was due to leave the airline at the end of April this year.
Meanwhile, G. T. Jayaseelan, SriLankan Airlines country manager for Beijing, who was approached by the government to succeed Mr Gunewardena, has returned to Beijing following discussions with secretary to the Sri Lankan Treasury and SriLankan Airlines chairman Dr. P. B. Jayasundera.
Mihin Lanka has been recently scouring markets in Europe and India in a bid to obtain new aircraft on a dry lease, at a lower cost. According to unconfirmed reports, Mihin Lanka representatives returned to the country yesterday after selecting two 19-year-old aircraft in France. The Treasury is expected to cover the cost of the lease rental.
Meanwhile, sources say that under Sri Lankan aviation regulations aircraft over 15 years old may not be registered in the country.
Not long ago, the airline brought down two brand new buses and took on lease for US$223,000 per month ground handling equipment. But these items have been idling at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for the past two months.
It has been pointed out that buses and step-ladders have been rendered redundant at the airport, which now provides bridges that allow aircraft direct access to passenger terminals.
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gchula99
Joined: Oct 2006
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 4 May 2008 07:01:08 GMT Report for Abuse
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I have seen many giants in buisness rise and fall.Failures are the pillers of success and will give a another go.
If you fall we are with you.
Edited By - gchula99 - 4 May 2008 07:04:22 GMT |
freedom1
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 4 May 2008 07:36:16 GMT Report for Abuse
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two brand new buses and took on lease for US$223,000 per month ground handling equipment. But these items have been idling at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for the past two months
The lease for such buses can't be that high unless not appointed between corrupted parties.
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gchula99
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4 May 2008 08:37:35 GMT Report for Abuse
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Freedom1,
That is a wrong information to build a strong public opinion against the government. |
freedom1
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4 May 2008 09:21:37 GMT Report for Abuse
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Gchula99,
that current Mihin / Sri Lankan Airlines chapter does not look like a gosl success. At least to me ... |
Berty
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 4 May 2008 12:11:31 GMT Report for Abuse
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If you fall we are with you.
hahahaha..will you accept when VP falls one day..lolz
Will you be still with him..
Sri lankan past History says that we all supported all the past Presidents when they were in Power..but talk badly once they are out of office..
so mate it is too early.. |
MahaDev
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 4 May 2008 12:35:22 GMT Report for Abuse
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If you fall we are with you.
Instead, you should stand firm to hold them!!
When they fly higher, they will push down, where you will fall down alone!
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RealKaruna
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4 May 2008 12:52:07 GMT Report for Abuse
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Mahinda's airline is 'kota uda'. Very soon, his government will also be 'kota uda'.
two brand new buses and took on lease for US$223,000 per month ground handling equipment. But these items have been idling at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for the past two months
The lease for such buses can't be that high unless not appointed between corrupted parties.
Corruption is the name of the game for MR and his sidekicks.
Edited By - RealKaruna - 4 May 2008 12:53:33 GMT |
Magnum357
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4 May 2008 13:08:21 GMT Report for Abuse
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THEN:
Mey Ahasa Apey...... Mey Ahasa Apey!....
Mihin Lanka.....Yours to fly......
NOW:
Mey Polowa Apey....... Mey Polowa Apey!....
Mihin Lanka..... Used to fly.....
Edited By - Magnum357 - 4 May 2008 14:28:10 GMT |
freedom1
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4 May 2008 17:42:29 GMT Report for Abuse
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Chief Executive Officer of the cash strapped airline, Sajin Vaas Gunawardena resigned last month but remained as a member of the board of the airline.
The budget airways named after President Mahinda Rajapaksa was reportedly invested mainly by the pension funds of government employees and was managed by President-65533 s close confederates. However, the venture turned a failure due to the extravagant and ineffective management though the reasons remain unclear, according to the sources.
The President could give them now a few Sri Lankan jets and rename the company into 'Happy Mihin' for a start.
Then Mihin can take over all Sri Lankan business and staff so that Emirates's shares will become worthless.
Also Iran hates Emirates so that the new coalition between Colombo and Tehran might bring changes for Mihin.
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freedom1
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4 May 2008 17:47:37 GMT Report for Abuse
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What happened to the new Southern airport ?
Edited By - freedom1 - 4 May 2008 17:49:13 GMT |
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