Shouldn’t foreign expert be appointed MD of SLP?
by J. A. A. S.R anasinghe, Productivity Specialist rathula49@gmail.com The recent appointment of Vipul Misra, an Indian national, as Acting Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lankan Airlines deserves to be viewed from a much broader perspective than simply as an appointment to a vacant position. In my view, it is a sensible and courageous decision […]
Recent appointment of Vipul Misra, an Indian national, as Acting Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lankan Airlines should be seen in a broader context than merely filling a vacant position, argues Productivity Specialist J.A.A. S.R. Misra possesses extensive aviation engineering and leadership experience from leading Indian carriers, and his appointment aligns with the need for specialized aviation knowledge, commercial acumen, operational discipline, and international exposure in the challenging international aviation industry.
Dr. Sarath Obeysekera, a distinguished CEO and former Managing Director of Colombo Dockyard PLC, supports the appropriateness of appointing foreign nationals to senior corporate positions when local candidates are not available. He highlights that Sri Lankan Airlines previously benefited from expatriate leadership during the Emirates management period from 1998 to 2008, which led to improved commercial discipline, accountability, and reduced political interference.
However, following the end of Emirates management, Sri Lankan Airlines faced turbulence due to political interventions and frequent changes in leadership.
The issue extends beyond the aviation industry. Colombo Dockyard PLC, a significant national maritime asset, experienced a shift in leadership when India’s state-owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders acquired a controlling interest and appointed Capt. Jagmohan as its non-executive chairman. Jagmohan's naval architecture expertise in warship design, dockyards, shipbuilding, and maritime projects could provide Colombo Dockyard with access to capital, technology, Indian and international orders, and a larger supply chain.
The success of this partnership should be measured by creating skilled Sri Lankan employment, expanding into commercial and offshore engineering, increasing exports, transferring technology, and developing local managerial successors—not just by a change in ownership or boardroom nationality.
India's national ambition, Viksit Bharat 2047, emphasizes economic growth, skills development, social progress, sustainability, and good governance. The rise of Indian professionals in globally significant corporations, such as Sundar Pichai leading Alphabet and Google, further underscores the value of Indian expertise. Therefore, the focus should be on selecting competent individuals to lead strategically important national institutions, rather than limiting appointments to local candidates solely.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
