By Marlon Dale Ferreira –
Marlon Dale Ferreira
The current Chief Operations Officer and Head of Flight Operations Capt.Druvi Perera of Sri Lankan Airlines has been granted the enviable task of now running the identical functions of Mihin Lanka the low cost budget airline too as now both airlines are being ordered to run under one Chairman but under two separate AOCs issued by the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka.
Among many blatant decisions taken in the recent past by the former Sri Lankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe and the soon to be out going CEO Kapila Chandrasena, is the controversial appointment of Capt. Druvi Perera to the post he currently holds.
It is important to point out that there is ‘NO’ such post as per the legality and as laid down in the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) manual (ref SLCAP 4100 Appendix I dated 16/05/2011 rev 1). The instructions attached here should have been crystal clear especially to those within the aviation sector and of the national carrier.
His post of Chief Operating Officer never existed before and was created and advertised in manner that ensured he was the sole applicant for the post. Strangely even the maximum age for this post was highlighted at 50 preventing other suitable candidates from applying.
COO Capt. Druvi Perera’s letter served to Capt. Charles Sirimanne the Safety Manager of Mihin Lanka
What further shocked aviation professionals in the Flight Operations was firstly here was a Pilot who had only his Australian Ordinary Level qualifications besides his flying credentials and further his ability and skills were questionable after his famous approach and landing incident in Chennai and more famously his push back without obtaining Air Traffic Control clearance with a VVIP on board in late 2014.
Since these two incidents were reported by Colombo Telegraph on the 9th and 14th of February 2015 respectively, the national carrier is yet to refute both allegations.
Worthy questions been asked now is as to how a person with such track record could be granted more responsibilities when it was commonly known that his controversial appointment and many other dealings is been probed at present at a personal level by Lawyer J.C. Weliamuna and his team.
The 100 day programme of the current ruling country’s government made many voters cast their votes in the hope that perpetrators and fraudsters would be brought to task as part of their pre-election promises. The confidence instilled in the people of this country took a positive turn with many eagerly coming forward to name and shame those who have been abusing power and those that have robbed the country.
Director General H.M.C.Nimalasiri’s letter addressed to CEO Mihin Lanka approving Capt. Charles Sirimanne’s appointment
This changed mindset of its people has now granted many the confidence to speak up fearlessly, especially those employees within the national airline.
The ongoing probe ordered by the Aviation Ministry has now had employees queuing up Lawyer Weliamuna’s door to blurt out credible information.
Information on the national carrier’s misdeeds and fraud now flow freely by those employees who had been muted all this time power wielding Senior Management in control of the airline who have been planted there by the previous regime.
Pilot related incidents of Sri Lankan Airlines was exposed by the media which raised questions about certain Pilots who commanded commercially operated flights with actions that compromised the lives of passengers on board.
Just five years ago nearly a dozen very senior Sri Lankan pilots who had previously served foreign airlines returned to our shores. They offered their services once again to the national carrier but were cold shouldered by the then Chairman Nishantha Wickremasinghe on the advice of the then Senior Manager Flight Operations for reasons best known to themselves. This was at a time when the national carrier depended on 35% expatriate Captains to fill the void created by many other brilliant Pilots who departed to join various Middle Eastern Airlines in absolute disgust. This took place due to the manner of how the airline was amateurishly been run and especially how they were been treated. The airline was severely short of senior captains on their long haul fleet with flights being cancelled on an adhoc basis.
Mihin Lanka General Manager Lal Perera’s letter addressed to Sri Lankan Airlines Capt. K.G.R. Yahampath
A year later, when these pilots found employment elsewhere the airline lost no time in advertising for pilots, internationally. Several foreign pilots with some holding dead licences were recruited and millions of public money was spent all over again in reactivating their licenses, whereas all of the returning pilots held live or active licences and would not have cost a rupee to the airline.
“The cash strapped airline lost more whilst a few got rich in the process.
Aren’t these the same people who jumped on the bandwagon and called themselves the patriotic sons of the land ? What humbug !” blurted a Pilot who left to commence a new job in the Arabian Gulf.
The two stories carried by Colombo Telegraph which appeared on the days mentioned previously also highlighted Capt.Druvi Perera’s famous safety related incidents when he was in command of those two specific flights that tainted his professionalism and competence as a pilot.
Strangely those incidents have up to now never been refuted by the airline providing cause to believe that the airline was found to be guilty due to the actions of Capt.Druvi Perera.
What is now interesting to find out is if the Civil Aviation Authority headed by Director General Nimalsiri was forced to hush these two incidents by people in higher power.
Under Capt. Druvi Perera’s astute leadership is also the famous incident where he succumbed to the political pressures which was wielded, requesting him to reduce the pass mark in order to accommodate and recruit two potential cadet pilots. One been a boy and the other been a girl.
The Chief Pilot Training and Standards at that time Capt.Patrick Fernando and his deputy Capt. Ranga Amadoruwa both stepped down from the post in sheer disgust not wanting to compromise their ethical standards and especially compromising the responsibilities that they were entrusted with holding their posts.
It is worthy to mention that Sri Lankan Airlines has always had political pressures of this nature exerted, however in Capt.Druvi Perera’s case, his passiveness to meekly give in tarnished his reputation among the entire pilot community when he requested of this special favour to accommodate the two cadet pilots short comings at the exam.
Further under his directive a foreign company was introduced to assist with the recruitment of cadet pilots when a tried, tested and proven system the airline had in house and run by their very own senior pilots for over 15 years was changed at a very considerable cost.
This new recruitment process perhaps has been one of the contributing reasons as to why certain pilots have been acting as ‘cow boys’ in the flight deck instead of respecting and not jeopardizing the human lives which was placed in the trust of their ability when operating commercial flights.
Capt. Perera has now incidentally started off on a wrong note with the low cost carrier Mihin Lanka when he served the Safety Manager Capt. Charles Sirimanne a letter dated 16th February 2015 stating that he no longer holds the post he diligently served on a voluntary basis.
Strangely the organisational chart and reporting lines do not permit the COO Capt. Perera any business to serve this sort of letter to the Manager Safety at Mihin Lanka when it should be have been served by the latter’s direct boss the CEO and that too in consultation and after approval of the Director General Civil Aviation.
What appears now is that Capt. Druvi Perera has clearly overstepped his authority in a clear ‘abuse of power’ and in sheer haste to cover up a more sinister and corrupt practice that is being conducted by the Director Flight Operations Capt Pujitha Jayakody, the Chief Pilot Training and Standards of Mihin Lanka.
The issue at hand here at Mihin Lanka is the sudden recruitment of foreign trainee pilots violating existing local regulations when plenty of local pilots were more than ready to contribute heavily to hold this dubious honour. There was no transparency in their selection process and very few within the airline knew they had landed.
Was this Capt. Druvi Perera’s strategy and meanness in punishing Capt.Sirimanne for this standing in the way of Capt.Jayakody ?
An even greater question asked now is has Capt. Druvi Perera now assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of Mihin Lanka? especially after he has now clearly stepped over the boundary by serving Capt. Sirimanne this letter through sheer ignorance and made an utter mess of himself and those even copied on the letter. If this is not a clear abuse of power then it would be interesting to find out what the real definition it is.
As far as the Civil Aviation Authority and the letter served by Director General H.M.C.Nimalasiri is concerned, Capt.Sirimanne will continue remain as the Manager Safety of Mihin Lanka.
What baffles most is the absolute ignorance also of Lal Perera the newly appointed General Manager of Mihin Lanka went on to issue a letter to Capt.K.G.R.Yahampath of Sri Lankan Airlines informing him that he will be assuming Capt.Charles Sirimanne’s duties at Mihin Lanka on the same day which was 16th February 2015.
The real question asked now is as of the 16th February 2015 who really officially holds the post of Safety Manager Mihin Lanka?
Colombo Telegraph has also obtained credible information which highlights a safety related issue at Mihin Lanka which otherwise has an unblemished record spanning seven years since it’s relaunch that would have any airline enthusiast read with much interest.
That story too would be published by Colombo Telegraph in the near future.
The experience of the Captain on that particular flight operated out of Colombo and destined for Jakarta returned back to base an hour and a half after take off that saved the lives of passengers and saved day for the Mihin Lanka on the 20th December 2014.
In this instance the management of Mihin Lanka may be fighting shy of thanking the said pilot to date for an excellent job done and saving the image of the airline.
This hair raising experience should have been shared with the pilots of their partner Sri Lankan airlines at the least, as is done in aviation all over the world but then the man Capt Perera monitoring both Flight Operations Department hadn’t bothered to do so even though two months have now lapsed after the incident.
The critical and valid question asked now is how safe are the country’s national carrier and its low cost carrier as long as Capt.Druvi Perera is at the helm operationally and more importantly holding the throttles of both airlines?
Jagath Fernando / March 7, 2015
Marlon
Well research write up as usual. Well done.
Very few airline pilots have educational qualifications. If you look at Sri Lankan airlines met pilots fll into two categories.
They are either Airfirce pilots retired from the Airforce or kids from wealthy families who went abroad and obtained a PPL and CPL. Important to understand that becoming a pilot is not based on educational qualifications. This is similar to many other professions as well.
Ideally GOSL should close down Mihin. It was under capitalised from day one and due to limited scale they cannot break even. Unfortunately our morons don’t understand that you cannot run an airline with 2-3 aircrafts. Losses are mounting and has run out of cash now.
Kapila has a few days to go before bring kicked out. He being a smart dude is supposed to have got a new contract signed just before change of govt. He is in line for a big pay out.
Mihin and Mattala are both white elephants and hopefully the wild elephants will be allowed to roam in Mattala in the near future.
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Amarasiri / March 7, 2015
Kamal,
No post yet? It is all yours.
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Ex UL / March 7, 2015
One correction Marlon. Airlanka had at least one COO – Rony Ranasinghe in the final days of the Rakitha regime.
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Marlon Dale Ferreira / March 7, 2015
Ex UL, please check if Ronnie Ranasinghe’s title was Chief Operating Officer in the late 80’s when I joined Air Lanka. This newly created post for Capt. Druvi Perera is Chief Operations Officer. I stand to be corrected though. Please check and post. Thank you.
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Randy Perera / March 9, 2015
Dear Marlon I think having Educated People Run the Country is better than having Uneducated Idiots run the Country like the ones in the Previous Govt.
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another ex UL employee / March 10, 2015
Dear Randy,
What’s the relevance ? Regardless of the recent change in the Political hierarchy,nothing much will change as long as the current Senior Management is in place.Most of them are there, not because of their expertise or efficiency but though their blind allegiance to Former Chairman/CEO and a new Chairman/Board will not make them efficient overnight.What’s needed at the hour is to get Professionals to manage few key areas .I am sure you know how old wine in a new bottle taste like
cheers
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another ex UL employee / March 9, 2015
Marlon,
Do believe we in fact had two previous Chief Operating Officers.The first being late Ronnie Ranasinghe and the second,rather ” infamous ” Sunil Pieris who even was alleged to have had his Date of Birth altered to be in employment
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Kuseel Gunasekaram / March 7, 2015
More cans opened. More worms evident. Marlon, thank your stars the White Vans have been grounded – for now, at least.
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mark / March 8, 2015
Charles sirimanne should not be nowhere near an aircraft. He has failed Captain Exams in both SriLankan and Qatar airways. Marlon u a [Edited out]
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Yasiru Fernando / March 8, 2015
Kudos to Marlon for writing such an important piece. Capt. Charles is not only one of the highest qualified captains in sri lanka but he is also a nuclear physicist , if I am not mistaken. He has also been one of the lecturers in a university in sri lanka. He could have stayed with qutar airways earning a huge salary , but he decided to come back to sri lanka when he saw our ex preciden Mahinda Rajapakse’s election booklet he published containing his vision for the country. He always fought for the right thing and also raised his voice against anyone who did harm to th airline. One person is Capt. Pujitha Jayakodi , who put all his afforts to not to continue the contracts of the sri lankan pilots who spoke against him to try and save the airline. As these captains knows very well that Mihin Lanka is not an airline which should run at a loss. Capt. Pujitha is one of the management’s people who s responsible for losses in the company and who has no idea how to handle or treat people. Including cabin crew members. As I’ve heard capt. Charles has raised his voice against the current recruitment process of Mihin First officer’s, as one of the concerned captains have put his personal e maill address on the vacancy advertisement. And also I’ve heard that they are recruiting indian people but not sri lankan kids who would like to pay and train with Mihin. Capt. Charles has raised this question in a meeting with the current DGCA Mr. Nimalsiri. So this change of positions must have come after this. And also his advice to all the people in the airline , F/O and cabin crew alike has make him like a father figure to all. His calm nature and gentlemen qualities are not second to his qualifications. I can write a book about him as he is such a character who I had the honour and privilege of working for three years.
Another such person is Capt. Lalith Wijethunga. These are the sri lankan captains who have fought hard to save the airline from hitting the rock bottom. But capt. Pujitha always thought that its best to recruit indian airforce captains instead of giving the chance to sri lankans.
Mihin Lanka is one of the worst place’s where corruption rules and also one place where mega deals happens. And the only government entity a person ( lucky few like Ingrid Guruge and Gereld Mendis ) can work after retirement age and even come back as a manager 6 years after retirement.
Anyway I thank you for atleast writing about one factor in Mihin Lankan and hope you will write more about the power abuse of the management , harassment of employees and so much more that has infected this unique airline.
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Former Employee / March 9, 2015
Seeing what’s taking palce at Mihin its best the Government keep to its promise of merging both Airlines soon for under the current Management of Mihin it only will keep on draining the national coffers.The plight of Mihin is mostly attributed to corrupt and inefficient Senior Management.Most of them neither have any professional qualifications nor the necessary expertise to man their respective positions.You now have a General Manager whose existence at UL was based purely on his political affiliations with the previous regime.Director flight operations is an unscrupulos charachter whose doings are well known at UL.As Head of Commercial you have a gentleman who is clueless of what is expected of him.The lady in charge of Hr & Admin is an individual who has no independent mind of her own.No wonder Mihin is a bankrupt Airline when one has to keep in its payroll staff who have long since reached over and above their retirment age.Wonder what expertise could Ms.Ingrid Guruge or for that matter even Mr.Gerald Mendis could now bring to Mihin that the current employees do not possess.Surely being in operations for over 08 years the Airline should have people to manage these matters instead of hiring these Retirees? On the other hand if these two individuals have been presumed to be so efficient when they were in active employment how come their respective areas are now found wanting !!!
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A Reader / March 8, 2015
Dear Marlon
From what I can gather is you have something against Sri Lankan Airlines & Pilots. What is your point anyway? Those are internal issues of Sri Lankan Airlines. I haven’t come across any safety related issues so far where a loss of life was involved in the history of the national airline. If a person thinks they shouldn’t fly on the national carrier they have other options. You don’t have to jump the gun. Let the employees and employers sort out their issues.
Did you by any chance try to become a pilot and you couldn’t join the airline?
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Navin / March 8, 2015
You vermin, who calls yourself a “reader”, are you a pandankaraya of the Airline bosses and their Political Masters?
Marlon’s piece is well written and well supported. What are you bitching about? You have the right to explain and show where the writer is wrong. Otherwise shut the fuk up.
Or are you one of those vermin in the Airline who benefits from the massive corruption and incompetence?
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Shashika / March 8, 2015
Dear MArlon,
This is the same Capt. Charles Sirimanne who failed his upgrade at Srilankan Airlines few times and left to Qatar Airways and failed same upgrade twice and return to Colombo due to soo much pressure. Is it true that Mihin broke all rules to make him a Captain. its a shame that he was appointed as a safety manager after all the failures and frustration he had in his carrier. I pitty the airline. No wonder the progress of the airline is as such for entrusting people of this calibur specially for safety.
shashika
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Yasiru Fernando / March 8, 2015
Dear Shashika,
if you dont know what the fuck your talking about keep your gap shut. I assume you are related to druvi or poojitha. If you want more of druvi’s and poojitha’s corruptions I will tell you. But dont be a scum and insult people who you don’t no. Just because you support scum like them it doesn’t mean they are good people. Go find your facts right and comments. But then again I assume you dont have any interest of finding facts because you know you won’t find any crappy stuff like what druvi and poojitha has done.get a fucking life dude.
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Waruna / March 9, 2015
Hey Marlon that’s a great piece. Plenty of authentic docs to backup your well written story. Those in the industry are well aware that aviation in Sri Lanks is soaked in a thick broth of corruption for quite sometimes and that an inquiry into its workings hadn’t happened for quarter of a century ! Hope your exposures inspire and hasten the investigators to go deep into its murkiness to bring out the rogues who enjoy the comforts of the depths. Corrupt aircraft purchases makes overnight billionaires but there are others who’ve been chipping away at profits slowly but steadily for decades in all other areas of purchases, ticketing, cargo, aircraft fuelling contracts to name a few. Dont be mistaken, their ill gotten haul is huge. Just check their assets and you will realise. I know if a few…….. These are the ones who hope to get through the net when only the Sharks are targeted.
Now to get to those comments. I find some to be true, others amusing and a few quite stupid. It’s true that Charles is a Uni grad whose qualifications are unmatched in aviation here though not necessaryly essential for aviation. We were in uni together and I’ve been an aviation enthusiast myself so know the inside workings to an extent.
Having said that today’s OL’s holding management team are broaching the subject of soon demanding a degree from future aspiring local pilots who were recently asked to show their AL’s. That’s the latest ploy to keep the local pilot numbers down so that more expatriates could be accommodated. The reasons for getting more foreigners is clear to So those who claim that Charles has failed etc is laughable when the many failures are today in the Sri Lankan management team. The man should provide us with a scrap of evidence first to make us believe in his frustration and outrage at the mention of a more qualified person.
Loose talk shows a loose mind. Charles is welcome at the five star airline, anytime and with open arms and that is a fact.
On the other hand, Yasiru is spot on with his analysis of this man.
Yet another claims that Mihin with its unblemished safety record ( those who haven’t flown it may choke on this) should be scrapped as its a white elephant. I have experienced their service many times and it’s superior to all low costs carriers that I’ve tried, the warmth of their cabin crew is genuine unlike the larger white elephant Sri Lankan airlines who has slipped heavily in the service sector even though their cabin crew are said to be taking home Rs 600,000 per month At the low cost a Mihin it’s said to be 1/10 th of that and they still manage to do a better service ! So which one is the white elephant may I ask the pundit ?
The same person claims that 3 aircraft cannot be an airline. I would like to say read up before you comment dear friend. The Worlds Best Low Cost carrier started with 2 aircraft just 14 years ago and today own over 100 brand new aircraft. It’s the slow and steady that won the race, remember ? Mihin is doing much better than you are aware of.
The current investigation on corruption should encompass both airlines to weed out the crooks. Mihin should then be government owned but privately managed. In my opinion, they would soon be able to purchase or manage Sri Lankan too if properly managed like Air Asia.
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Waruna / March 9, 2015
A well researched article. Our thanks must go out to Marlon for getting into dirty pit and expose the slimy and smelly crooks who were nominated to hold responsible posts by the weak and crooked politicians of yore.
Some comments of your readers are interesting and factual whilst the rest are steeped in jealousy and outrage aimed at a better qualified man.
It’s true that Charles is a university graduate who holds a degree in double maths a qualification no other in local aviation holds. I too am a local uni product and an aviation enthusiast and follow developments closely. He once served Sri Lankan airlines and conducted free lectures to their pilots but left for a better package to 5 star – Qatar airways where he served for over seven years without any issues.
The person who loosly talk about failing exams should provide at least a scrap of evidence to prove it. No 5star airline would tolerate the person so loosely tainted and no Authority would consider such a person to hold a responsible post in an airline so let’s cut that crap shall we ? By the way what stars can Sri Lankan boast of when over 50% of their management are known failures ? Their safety dept Managerial post was held by failures throughout.
Another claims three aircraft don’t make an airline. What garbage is that ? Air Asia the nominated the worlds best low cost carrier started with just two aircraft and now owns more thst 100 brand new aircraft. Read up my friend.
The low cost Minin is better run and closer to making profits that the great white elephant Sri Lankan where the cabin crew are paid Rs 600,000 per month. Mihin pays 1/12 th that and does a much better service.
Both airlines should be properly investigated as there are several crooks in the system that needs weeding out. The government should own the airline but allow private management of Mihin. They will soon be in a position to buy off Sri Lankan and trim its wings to make profits
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Shashika / March 9, 2015
Dear Yasiru,
I understand your frustration and vocabulary shows the level of your education and mindset. I was there in that era with UL when your uncle was trying to get his 4 bars. I’m no more with UL for you to give proof of what I have seen to my eyes. Your telling me a First Officer who have more than 11,000 hrs of flying was not given command by two leading airlines but Mihin is not a controversy? First officers are eligible for command when they compleate 5500 hr range. But due to your uncles expertise in flying he had to stick with two chips for a very long time.
The appointment of this positions are decided by the airline and regularized through CAA Srilanka who is the authority. The airline has and will appoint people as and when they want at the disgration of the management. Upon that, the letter will be issued by the authority. So the evidence given (letters) is not a reason for a heart attack.
Most of them do not know the process of an appointment of a accountable manage but my friend Yasiru, you should have done your homework before you comment in fury and ignorance. It was surely a big mistake by the airline to appoint people of such background. If not this kind of official letters won’t sneek out of confidential files. As much to say, I pitty people like Yasiru for the lack of education. Remember a degree in science would not make a scientist perfect but so many elements and values should be synchronized to make a perfect scientist. Same with pilots!!
Cheers
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Shantha / March 9, 2015
Kapila resigned few minutes ago…..are all you UL detractors (within and outside) happy?
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another ex UL employee / March 10, 2015
If its TRUE would be more than Happy.But then how are you going to recover the ill gotten money that he made through various deals beginning with the first lease of Airbus from BOC Aviation Singapore when he was the CEO of Mihin
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another ex UL employee / March 10, 2015
Not only Kapila there are few others who should go the same way starting with the Chief Planning Officer Ms. Manique Gunasekera who is equally responsible for most of the problems specially at Commercial Area.
At least now the Government should look to appoint a true Professional(even a Foreign national) who has a proven track record in the Industry rather than pick on any mediocre individual.
Hopefully they would not be making the mistake of bringing in the likes of Peter Hill or Manoj Gunawardena
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Yasiru Fernando / March 9, 2015
Dear Shashika,
dont talk about my education when you have not been tough to respect others who are well qualified and well mannered and even well respected even amongst the sri lankan and Mihin senior captains and management. I understood your education, mindset and sadly the upbringing the moment I saw your comments. Before you ask me to do my homework you do yours. Capt. Charles who you say my uncle ( which I am honoured ) was even called back to sri lankan when they were short of captains but he refused. If you knew your facts right and if he was such a person who couldn’t do anything surely they wouldn’t have. And for your information I have enough friends flying for qutar airways who knows him very well and who claims that he is one of the best. I also have friends in the qatar management who says that he mostly flew vvip flights and he is well recognised and the management who are willing to take him back if he wants to come back. If you were with ul I am sure you might know that not every capt is allowed to oporate qatar vvip flights. And as for the fact that you worked for UL all I can say is ” so who gives a crap “. I too worked for Sri Lankan and FYI for Mihin too. So if you think you know the management who you think you know , you are sadly mistaken as you have no clue about.
And shashiks , for being a pathetic human being who thinks that you know it all , I guess your idea of a good management is captains who increase their fuel allowance up to 100,000 and ask the transport division to send him a crew transport to go to work. And shashika , I also assume your bappas are more glorified to put their wife’s name as the driver just to claim that money as well. Shashika please , go ask your bappas what they did to Mihin and also to sri lankan and their corrupted deeds. And then if you have inch of a brain I dont think you will make pathetic and idiotic comments of people who you really dont have and idea of. If you want I can give more. And shashika I know what makes a man a man and a scientist a scientist and also a impotent man a impotent man.
And waruna thank you very much. Not because you thought what I said was right but for saying the right thing. And also for adding your comments for the right reason. Because when ignorant and idiotic people like Shashika make these type of comments about a person who is considered an honour to the airline , someone has to teach these grade 2 kids what is right and wrong.
Cheers
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Shashika / March 10, 2015
Yasiru,
Looks like you have more than a uncles relationship with Charles. I do understand again your frustration and ignorance. As you spoke sbout his popularity among the senior chaps presently at Mihin or in that matter UL, I got bad news as he is known as a trouble maker. Yes he is famous for bringing baseless alligations even to the current management and an investigation currently underway as my old colleagues explained me today as you made this topic interesting for me to inquire. Your defense is baseless as he was anyway not a captain for UL to call him back until he joined MJ. UL made the correct move by keeping him as a FO there.
Thanks to MJ he finally became a captain. I’m not challenging his ability or knowledge which I’m not aware of. But the past proves all that. But I do challenge for you to prove why wasent he appointed as a captain way before MJ?
There maybe a downfalls of the current management but it is not my concern as this article shown about an appointment which was diminished. So my friend, just because you were a cabin crew member as I presume, don’t have a clue about the current score.
I’m not here to test my knowledge as I’m way pass that age, but these are current facts that both the airlines faces as you may not aware of. So again do your homework before washing dirty clothes of others. I do not wish to show evedence as these are official and confidential documents to share in public unless people who needs attention as mentioned in the article posting company documents.
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Dayan Jayasinghe / March 10, 2015
Kapila is now gone and the top seat is take over by Druvi as the Acting CEO of SriLankan. Druvi will not give up easily and JC Weliamuna is about to crack his neck with facts soon. His best friend Pulasthi Jayasinghe – the Airtaxi disaster project manager and few of his co workers are about to go home during next few weeks.
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BRAVO TWO ZERO / June 17, 2015
This pulasthi jayasinghe, is this chap still with UL? Wasn’t he from the Air force, he was not a pilot but he was the secretary of the AF Commander didnall the P!!!P service and carry tales to the other officers, and also instrumental of getting Melinda Rathnayake to the mess, took him for shooting, camping offered air force chalets etc to creat a route for the air force guys to apply for UL….
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Waruna / March 12, 2015
Yasiru, you may have to pardon Shashika for he/she does not fully understand what he/she speaks here but pretends to understand it more that all of us.
If previous appointments are to prove anything, almost all the appointments by the previous govt is steeped in corruption and nepotism so it is clear as to why Capt Charles was kept away from command at UL but was loved by the 5 star Qatar. Deprived professionals were many at UL but today they the highest posts in the gulf whereas the cronies have sent the local airlines on a perpetual spin.
So much for their abilities ….
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Muaz / March 14, 2015
How Airlines get 5 star ratings are well known in the Industry. How come prestigious SIA has not got 5 stars. Its simply because they don’t spent money on such things. Every body knows how Qutar bribed fifa for the world cup. But Qatar for sure is a reputed airline, and true enough they have some stringent procedures for staff. Not only Charles their was a Sri Lankan national (Captain) who was former SIA but was asked to leave recently due unethical behavior. I believe he is now working in Pakistan. But due credit to First Officer Charles his behavior was not the problem but adaptability to become a Captain. He sure is a UNI graduate but not all graduatesHow Airlines get 5 star ratings are well known in the Industry. How come prestigious SIA has not got 5 stars. Its simply because they don’t spent money on such things. Every body knows how Qutar bribed fifa for world cup. But Quatar for sure is a reputed airline, and true enough they have some stringent procedures for staff. Not only Charles their was a Sri Lankan national (Captain) who was former SIA but was asked to leave recently due unethical behavior. I believe he is now working in Pakistan. But due credit to First Officer Charles and his behavior was not the problem but adaptability to become a Captain. He sure is a UNI graduate but not all graduates cAn fly and not all pilots will pursue a degree. This is true for all. I have nothing against this poor soul. Well Marlon question is how did you get such official documents. Forget about Mihin Lanka letters but to publish a CAASL letter did you get the approval from the authority. If so well I have serious doubts about our aviation authority.. Good luck to SL aviation industry. Hope Minister of aviation will take appropriate actions with authority for leaking such documents. cAn fly and not all pilots will pursue a degree. This is true for all. I have nothing against this poor soul. Well Marlon question is how did you get such official documents. Forget about Mihin Lanka letters but to publish a CAASL letter did you get the approval from the authority. If so well I have serious doubts about our aviation authority.. Good luck to SL aviation industry. Hope Minister of aviation will take appropriate actions with authority for leaking such documents.
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Waruna / March 15, 2015
Jealousy oozing from all orifices, bet you are short of a degree ?
Move on my friend but you are repeating yourself too often and may need the help of a shrink.
How would you know of any airline unless you happen to be at those places ? Or was it another case of tried and failed to get in ? That’s ok
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Reader / March 17, 2015
Dear Waruna,
your just a cock sucker of Charles. Bend Down and see weather you have your balls are hanging. You are simply a spineless peace of shit.
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Capt S Jayasinghe / April 16, 2015
The Airline Pilot’s Guild of Sri Lanka is preparing to call for the removal of SriLankan Airlines’ Chief Operating Officer (COO) Capt. Druvi Perera following the damning report of the Board of Inquiry into the national carrier, Guild sources said. Aviation circles are buzzing with questions as to the continuation of Capt. Perera in that capacity in the wake of damning evidence found against him in the Weliamuna Report.
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UL pilot / September 25, 2015
I read this tread with interest and amusement, knowing both UL and Charles, it sad how truth can be so distorted. Charles failed his upgrade to Capt with UL and flew with Qatar for almost a decade but was also not considered for command with them despite two other expat FO who joined them long after Charles being promoted to a Capt. Charles got his flying licence thanks to a scholarship given by CDE and was subsequently employed by UL. He was requested to comeback to be trained as a Capt. Only because Mihin could not find Captains and that’s how he ended up as a Capt. Most of his juniors have surpassed him professionally both here and in Qatar. He contract has now been terminated and thanks to his own stupidity and ignorance is out of a job. One should never forget the saying, “don’t bite the hand that feeds you”. As for the rest who comments here about him here, your ignorance of facts is no better.
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