‘Print Money, Sell Airline’: Lanka PM’s desperate move as country stares at last drop of fuel

Sri Lanka's new administration intends to sell the national airline in order to reduce losses, as part of measures to restore the country's finances, even as authorities are compelled to print money in order to pay government salaries. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe stated in a televised address to the nation Monday that the new administration intends to privatise Sri Lankan Airlines. He stated that the country urgently required $75 million in foreign currency to cover crucial imports.

The economic and political crises in the island nation shows no signs of subsiding and the medicines are out of reach. Ranil claimed that the government is forced to allow the printing of money in order to pay state personnel.