We are integrating our country to the world economy keeping our identity intact unless those who divested the national airline by embracing the new world economic order in toto, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the SriLankan Airlines employees at a ceremony on the occasion of taking over its management from Emirates Airline held at the Colombo International Airport today (3).

Admitting that the SriLankan Airlines was running at a loss the President said that we must take up the challenge of running the airline profitably so that it would become a pride of Sri Lanka . He expressed confidence that this challenge is not beyond the Sri Lankans as the Government has broken the backbone of the most formidable terrorist outfit in the world and is currently proceeding to liberate the North too from its grip.

He also appealed to the trade unions to assist the airline to become a profitable venture.