Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

so the issue is not really Minister Vs Arjuna..it is cos Hashan involvement as a UNP Politician..Fair enough..let us move on

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Damn, there was a bit of a sunshine. Now its dark again :((

Sri Lankan Airlines plans to reduce flights to cut costs amid soaring fuel prices but said the new schedule would not affect key passenger segments like tourists and migrant workers.

The state-owned airline said in a statement it will go ahead with re-fleeting plans by replacing four old aircraft with Airbus A320s by the end of 2008.
Sri Lankan is projecting a fuel bill of 500 million US dollars for the current year at present prices, which accounts for about half of its overall costs.

'The airline is not passing the full impact of the increase in the fuel bill to its passengers,' the statement said.

'At the same time, the national carrier does not intend to become a burden on the Treasury and the country s taxpayers, and has already put into action several measures to mitigate the impact of fuel price increases. It will continue to do more in the coming months.'

The airline recently introduced a fuel surcharge, as many other international carriers have done.
It will soon be 'temporarily' reducing capacity on some routes in its network of 41 destinations in 22 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, the statement said.
'This is nothing unusual many airlines around the world have already announced similar reductions in flight schedules.'
Sri Lankan Airlines said the flight reductions will mostly be confined to having just one flight less per week and that every one of its destinations will continue to be served by a sufficient number of flights.
'The airline has ensured that these reductions will not affect its passengers and has taken into consideration the needs of Sri Lanka s tourism industry, the migrant workers in the Middle East, and the strategic requirements of the government and the country.'

Pricing in the air travel industry reacts slowly and it is not possible to immediately pass on the increased costs to the travelling public, the airline said.

Reducing the flights was necessary to 'bring about an immediate reduction in costs,' the statement said.

'The price of fuel is not expected to come down, and the entire global air transport industry is preparing for even tougher times ahead.'

Fuel prices have shot up by half since January 2008, the statement said, adding the government took over management of the airline from Emirates in April, when the decade-long management contract with the Gulf carrier ended.

The airline is already implementing several measures recommended by a panel of experts from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to reduce fuel consumption by three percent by the end of this financial year, and up to five percent soon after.
'The airline has slashed budgets across the board, and is reducing expenses and minimising wastage,' the statement said.

Otherwise Mr. XFactor, Mr. Berty and Hajara will have to communicate by smoke signals?????

'The price of fuel is not expected to come down, and the entire global air transport industry is preparing for even tougher times ahead.'