Firms show interest in SriLankan Airlines

Colombo

PRIVATE equity firm TPG and fund company BlackRock Inc are among half a dozen firms which have shown preliminary interest in a 49 per cent stake in loss-making SriLankan Airlines Ltd, people familiar with the matter said.

They said Sri Lanka is looking to sell the stake in the national carrier along with management control. The restructuring is part of a broader move by the government to reduce support for state-owned firms and cut debt.