"Peter Hill will remain CEO of SriLankan until the contract expires in March 2008," Emirates, which owns 43.6% of the company and has the right to manage the airline for 10 years up to next March, said in a statement late last year.

The Sri Lankan government withdrew Hill's work permit in Dec-07, but his visa was not withdrawn. Sri Lanka, which controls 51.05% of SriLankan Airlines, wants a bigger say in the running of the national carrier.

The 62-year-old British national is currently based in Colombo and has been the head of the national airline since 1999, after joining as its chief commercial officer in 1998.

His virtual expulsion from the airline was because he had failed to "look after the interests of the majority shareholder," the head of Sri Lanka's investment regulatory authority said this week.

The government is currently holding a meeting with Emirates to discuss plans to renew the management contract of SriLankan. Discussions have so far been inconclusive.

Date posted: 04-Jan-08