SriLankan Airlines records Rs. 35.6bn pre-tax loss in Q1 of 2026/27

Newswire reports that SriLankan Airlines posted a pre-tax loss of Rs. 35.6 billion in the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year. Hiru News reports the same first-quarter loss, while Newsfirst also features the figure in its headline. Newswire says the figures come from the Ministry of Finance’s Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report.

Newswire reports that the carrier’s revenue reached Rs. 82.8 billion, compared with Rs. 62.6 billion in the equivalent period a year earlier. Its expenses climbed by 40.4%, from Rs. 67.8 billion to Rs. 95.2 billion. Newswire identifies a 93% increase in aviation fuel costs, which it attributes to the continuing conflict in the Middle East, as the principal driver of the spending rise. It also reports foreign-exchange pressures and estimates an operating loss of Rs. 12.5 billion for the quarter.

Newswire reports that the Ministry cited structural weaknesses, limited liquidity, expensive maintenance and significant debt commitments as obstacles to the airline’s financial sustainability. Newsfirst provides longer-term context, saying the airline recorded a Rs. 4.9 billion profit in 2008 and has accumulated losses of more than Rs. 630 billion over subsequent years.

Newswire reports that the Government has continued supporting the carrier financially. Following the restructuring of a USD 175 million loan, a USD 126.5 million banking liability was added to the Government’s debt stock on March 20. Newswire also reports that the Government supplied a further USD 30 million to cover near-term financing requirements.