スリランカのナショナルフラッグ「スリランカ航空」の経営権に関する記事です。アラブ首長国連邦の航空会社の「Ｅｍｉｒａｔｅs」は１９９７年にスリランカ航空の株式をスリランカ政府から購入し、株主間契約書を締結して同会社の経営権を握ってきました。その株主間契約書が２００８年３月３１日に失効して、経営権がスリランカ政府に移管され、下記（二番目の記事）のような人事が発令されたのでした。

会長は大蔵次官のＤｒ.ジャヤスンデラ氏、役員の中にラリット・デ・シルバ氏の名前が見えます。両氏ともスリランカテレコム関連の仕事で面識があります。彼等はテレコムに加えて、航空キャリアの経営に参画することになります。

実は日本のＮＴＴがスリランカテレコムに参画したのが１９９７年でした。そして昨日の記事のように２００８年４月１日に全株式をマレーシアの通信会社に譲渡したのでした。航空業界のスリランカ航空（かつてのエアランカ）も同様に１９９７年に一部の株式を「Ｅｍｉｒａｔｅｓ」に譲り、同じ１０年間の間海外の会社に経営を任せてきたのでした。

「スリランカエアー」の場合、この１０年間は非常に複雑なものがあったようです。とにかくスリランカでは政権が変わると、前の政権の政策は徹底的に批判されます。しかし当事者同士の正規な契約は変えることができません。そのことが下の大統領の挨拶に現れています。

この二つの会社の１０年目の経営変更については身近に見てきただけに非常に感慨深いものがあります。


Emirates looks to sell SriLankan air stake (6 Jan 2008)

DUBAI (Reuters) - Emirates airline said it is looking to sell all or part its stake in state-controlled SriLankan Airlines after the South Asian island's government sought greater control over the carrier's day-to-day business.

Dubai-based Emirates, which owns 43.6 percent of SriLankan and whose 10-year management contract of the carrier expires in April, would value its stake it about $150 million, Emirates President Tim Clark told Reuters on Sunday.

"It's a good buy," Clark said. "The government was seeking greater control over the day-to-day business of the airline, which was not acceptable to us."

SriLankan investors might be interested in buying Emirates' stake, Clark said, without being more specific.Emirates said on Sunday it would not renew its management contract, though it did not give a reason.

"Emirates has notified the Government of Sri Lanka that it will not be renewing the shareholder's agreement, which expires on March 31," the carrier said in a statement.

"With effect from April 1, management control of SriLankan Airlines will pass to the Government of Sri Lanka," it said.

The Sri Lankan government last month cancelled the work permit of SriLankan Chief Executive Officer Peter Hill - who was seconded from Emirates - after the carrier refused seats to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and 35 officials who were visiting the United Kingdom.
"It's an amicable parting," Clark said.

Emirates had in September expected to renew its management contract for at least another five years and wanted to double the carrier's fleet to as many as 30 aircraft.　Emirates paid $70 million for the stake in SriLankan, its only investment in another carrier.

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Sri Lanka Government appoints SriLankan Airlines・Chairman & Directors
-March 28th, 2008

The Government of Sri Lanka has nominated and appointed a new Chairman and Directors to SriLankan Airlines, with immediate effect.

Dr P B Jayasundera has been appointed Chairman with Mr. Nishantha Wickremasinghe, Mr Lalith De Silva and Mr Sunil Wijesinha as Nominee Directors to represent the government which holds 51.05% shares while the Emirates Airline holding 43.63% shares will be represented by Mr Tim Clark, Mr Gary Chapman and Mr Nigel Hopkins.

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President's Speech at New SriLankan Airline Ceremony
April 03, 2008, Katunayaka, Sri Lanka.


I remember how Sri Lankan Air Line was handed over to another company a decade ago. When that decision was taken it gave a huge shock to people in this country. People were shocked having listened to the largest transaction at the time.

I still remember a photo published on newspapers showing employees of this airline sadly looking at parking of an aircraft that bore a different logo from Air Lanka from distance.

Those who behind the deal at the time could only explain it with words that country should embrace the new global economic trends. We are not going to take cover from these words. But, we clearly state that we are going to the future with the new global economic trends while protecting our identity.

That is the vision with that we should deal with the world.

We are not a nation new international trade. We are nation that has been doing international trade and maintaining diplomatic ties with world for over thousands of years. We are well experienced in trading with global economy. We also faced the invasions that had come with those transactions. Therefore, we have to comprehend this global reality and to get used to make good business with it.

Friends ! This is a moment that the shock given to our people decade ago turns to a pleasure.

There is no point of blaming the past. No point of cursing the management. No point of cursing people behind the deal. What I believe is that the past is to learn lessons but not blame and complain.

Let's correct this mistake for the nation and for the future generation. We launched Mihin Lanka airline to give back the lost heritage for the people. We started it with 250 million. Today, not even a boutique can be started with 250 million. To go head solving the problems we need cooperation of all.

World has been able to win over the skies excellently since the day that Rights brothers invented the aircraft. Distances between countries have been reduced by the speed itself. Air travel has become the safest and the swiftest mode of travel.

Air travelers have become a group that enjoys luxurious amenities. But, what as a nation, have we been able to contribute to the air line industry?

When aircraft technology reaches the sky in development we have not been able to build a competent management at least. It has been calculated that loss incurring from air travel for this year is 5000 million. In certain years our air lines have shown profits by selling out their aircraft. This is a situation we have to be ashamed of as nation. Our first battle should be to come out of this shame.

Our endowments are not going to be protected just because an indigenous management is appointed. It is not going to be protected because the government has the ownership either. We have to overcome lot of challenges if we are to make this airline a national heritage. We have taken a great responsibility. You should see the great challenge in front of you when you assume this responsibility.

We are assuming this airline at a time when large numbers of competitive airlines have come up in the region, also, at a time when the global economy has to face lot of challenges.

Fuel prices are skyrocketing at global markets. It affects all airlines in the world. Also, food prices are going up today. The world most wicked terrorists in our country are dieing hard to disrupt our air travel. By carrying out several attacks at our national airport they attempted to stop aircraft coming into the country, the attempt was to isolate us from the rest of the world.

It is under this situation that we are taking over the responsibility to run this airline. I believe this responsibility is not too much for us. Having won the east we are now getting ready to win north. This is a time that we are offering democratic rights to the people in the East. Also we have achieved a huge economic growth. I would like to remind that the terrorists attacked this airport itself at several instances; that labeled themselves as the world most ruthless terrorists are now coming to their knees.

Meanwhile, even before such serious challenges, we have not changed a letter of the Mahinda Chinthana. Please look at the giant leap that we have taken from separation of North and East, to abrogation of Cease-fire agreement, to fighting drugs, to ensuring democracy in the East. Nobody has even thought of taking such serious decisions. Those are the real challenges in the political world.

Whilst facing such challenges we have been able to make Sri Lanka one of the countries with lowest unemployment rate and to maintain an economic growth of approximately 7%. It has been above 6% during that three years. This is the fist time that we had such situation after independence. Please do not underestimate these. We have been able to make the per capita income to 1600 US dollars.

For country that overcoming such challenges this challenge is not too much at all. Therefore, now take up this challenge with the new management. Now , it is you who have the responsibility.

Now, there is no outsider to be blamed if the airline fails before the world. We have to accept both the challenge and the blame.

Sri Lankan Airline must show the pride of our country. But do not make it inaccessible to the common people of the country. Even majority of our people living in rural villages are now becoming aircraft passengers at least for few hours in their lives. The opportunities to overseas travel are so abundant. Hospitality should be equally offered to foreigners and the locals as well. Public servant when using Sri Lankan Airlines should be given special prices. Now we have made it mandatory for public servants to use Sri Lanka Airlines when going aboard. We should give a better service to the people of our own country.

Today when your destiny is given to your own hands, the trade unions too have a vital role to play. Do not think that Trade Unions are only there to win rights for the employees. Those trade Unions that had rally their protests when selling these institutions must have a responsibility to protect them when they are being given back. They should give their support to leverage this airline to one of the best in the world.

This air line is important not only because of the profit , but also it is a part of our nation's pride. It is the best way to carry our flag to the world. It should be a diplomatic service that shows our hospitality to the world. Please fulfill this responsibility.

I wish that I will be able to see a picture of happy employees of a profitable airline looking at their own aircraft soon, instead of a picture of sad employees looking at a outside aircraft arriving at the terminal.

I request you all commit yourselves to lift this airline to a significant position in Asia for the nation for our future generation.

May all of you have bright future!