Sri Lanka, Aug. 5 -- A major administrative crisis has erupted within the Government, as the clash between Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilake and Deputy Minister Janitha Kodithuwakku reaches boiling point over the controversial push to appoint an interim Chief Executive Officer at loss-making SriLankan Airlines, according several sources within Sri Lankan Airlines.

According to them, the friction peaked on Monday when the Minister directly intervened in a formal inquiry convened by his Deputy to reinstate a suspended airline employee. They noted that the Minister effectively undermined the proceedings by delaying the inquiry from the morning until the evening before shutting down the session prematurely. Although the a...