Former Air Niugini CEO Wasantha Kumarasiri OBE, an applicant for the CEO position at SriLankan Airlines, has provided limited information upon request to ‘The Leader’ following a media inquiry, noting that he has made formal appeals to relevant authorities seeking clarity and fairness in the interview process and he trusts a fair opportunity would be offered.
(This article was originally published on The Leader website)
Questions have arisen regarding the ongoing CEO selection process, following concerns raised by Kumarasiri relating to the transparency and conduct of the shortlisting and interview procedures as a result of our media inquiry.
According to information shared by Kumarasiri in response to this publication’s inquiry, he had received an official invitation to attend CEO interviews scheduled for mid-February 2026.
Subsequently, the process was postponed, with candidates informed that a revised date would be communicated.
The information available reveals that he had become aware through industry sources that interviews may have proceeded later in the month.
He notes that his attempts to obtain clarification from SriLankan Airlines prior to these reported interviews did not receive a response.
Kumarasiri, an internationally experienced aviation executive and former CEO of Air Niugini, is widely recognised for his leadership in transforming the airline from near bankruptcy into a successful and profitable operation.
Under his guidance, the company achieved significant operational and financial improvements.
His contributions to the aviation industry have been further acknowledged with the award of the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).
He is also understood to be the only Sri Lankan worldwide in the aviation sector to have received this honour.
Kumarasiri’s strong performance had led the Government of Papua New Guinea to appoint him as Managing Director with oversight of 12 State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), including Air Niugini.
In this capacity, he played a key role in restructuring and improving the performance of several SOEs.
In 2019, he has also served as a member of the Expert Committee appointed by the President tasked with studying SriLankan Airlines and providing recommendations for its re-engineering and restructuring.
The situation has prompted discussion within aviation and industry circles regarding governance standards and transparency in senior leadership appointments, particularly at a time when SriLankan Airlines is undergoing a critical phase of restructuring that requires experienced leadership in legacy airline reform.
Industry observers have also noted aspects of the CEO recruitment criteria, including that prior CEO experience has been described in the advertisement as an advantage rather than a mandatory requirement.
Some have suggested that such positioning may influence the selection framework for a role of this nature.
Kumarasiri has stated that he has formally brought these matters to the attention of relevant authorities and strongly believes and remains hopeful of being afforded an opportunity to participate in the process and present his credentials.
As at the time of publication, SriLankan Airlines has not issued a public clarification regarding the interview process or the current status of candidate shortlisting.
Given the importance of this appointment to the future direction of the national carrier, the matter is likely to continue to attract attention, with increased calls for transparency, accountability and adherence to due process.
