US private equity firms BlackRock and TPG Capital have submitted Expressions of Interest (EOI) in acquiring a stake in SriLankan Airlines (UL, Colombo International) Sri Lanka's Minister of International Trade & Development Strategies, Malik Samarawickrama, has said.

Speaking to Lanka Business News, Samarawickrama said proposals had also been received from several Chinese carriers, one of which has been reported to be HNA Group.

The deadline for submissions was September 23 having been extended from the previous delayed date of August 23.

Eager to wean the loss-making carrier off the national fiscus, Colombo has pledged to absorb SriLankan Airlines' liabilities which are said to stand at over USD3 billion.

As part of the carrier's privatization, sister airline Mihin Lanka (Colombo International) will be absorbed into SriLankan Airlines by year end. All of Mihin Lanka's route authorities will also be transferred to SriLankan in a bid to increase its attractiveness to investors. Initial reports indicate the first Mihin Lanka routes to be flown under SriLankan flight numbers will begin from October 30.

The Indian Ocean region has already lured in one US venture capital firm, Blackstone. In 2013, it acquired controlling stakes in two Maldives-based seaplane operators – Maldivian Air Taxi (Malé) and Trans Maldivian Airways (TMW, Malé) - before merging the two under the Trans Maldivian Airways brand.