Believe it or not Sri Lanka wants a new airline....

[SN30952]

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa revealed today that the country is now studying the background for setting up of a new airline.

Believe or not, Sri lanka's priorities are not what the West thinks they are.
The tsunami hit the poor, the rich have already their damages paid back. Maybe not all the rich, or do they lack the big revenues from prior the tsunami?

Indeed tourism business needs of course more tourists, because their investments stand idle.

Sri Lanka government owns a 49% stake in the country's national airline Sri Lankan.
Air Lanka, was privatised in April 1998. Emirates airline took a 40% shareholding in the company.
Air Lanka acquired six Airbus A330-200s to complement its fleet of A340-300 and A320-200 aircraft.

Is that a good message to the potential tourist? A first glance the tourist will have the feeling he paid twice for his visit, once via the millions of Euro donations put in the island country, and than via his touroperator.

[n5528p]

Is there any source available?

Bernhard

[regi]

buying new airbusses is another way to say they needed to replace airbusses which were destroyed by a suicide attack by the tamil tigers.
The immediate result of this attack was a standstill in its economy. The Tigers were recognised as a partner for negotiations.