Captain Suren Ratwatte has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lankan Airlines.
Captain Ratwatte who is currently employed by Emirates Airline is due to commence operations in his new role from October 2015.
However an official announcement regarding his appointment is yet to be announced by the airline.
Suren is the brother of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s advisor Charitha Ratwatte.
Jagath Fernando / September 11, 2015
Nothing wrong in the appointment as long as the proper process was followed and he has the required skills and experience.
He should not be appointed as CEO simply because he is the brother of Charitha or because he is a pilot.
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AVB / September 11, 2015
If this Ratwatte held a senior management position at Emirates it would have been known by now.. In another news article, it says that he is a manager of “Human factor”.. Is this a senior management role ??
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mj / September 11, 2015
Thousands times Better then crazy Shiranth’s brother ….
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Leel / September 11, 2015
Who ever it will be, he has to keep one thing in his mind. This airline keep going WITH POORMAN’S PARIPPU TAX. If this airline is sold to somebody who can run it profitably then POORMAN can have better PARIPPU CURRY WITH MORE PARIPPU IN IT. Not even 5% of Srilankan population is using it, so why we need this type of airline.
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justice / September 11, 2015
Here we go again, around the mulberry bush.
The Ratwattes appear to have more ‘pull’ than other clans.
Meanwhile, the national carrier goes on ploughing the nation’s wealth into the pockets of the bloated megabeaurocracy and side contractors who are living very well and enjoying the perks of free air tickets annually.
Do we not have any sense of shame or injustice towards the toiling masses some of whom make do with just one meal a day?
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Amarasiri / September 11, 2015
RE: Sri Lankan Airlines: Charitha Ratwatte’s Brother Appointed As New CEO
“Suren is the brother of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s advisor Charitha Ratwatte.:
Is he qualified? Is he the best we can find? If so fine.
The fact that he happens to be the brother of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s advisor Charitha Ratwatte is not material to his ability to run an efficient Airline.
What one needs to look out for are incompetents being appointed who will ruin things, like the Medamulana Meeeharakas and their relatives, like the former CEO of air Lanka.
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colin / September 11, 2015
Well said he seems to be a suitable choice.Its sad that the media focusses on “he being Ciharitha Ratwattes brother the advisor to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe”.
This guy is a pilot for Emirates and a renowned pilot and we should be happy that he is coming home to serve the National Airline.
In my opinion he is amongst the best suited to be the CEO of Sri Lankan airline and we should give him all the cooperation in his new venture.
Its time we look forward and as we know Ranil he will venture to only appoint suitable personnel and not cronies
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Niranjala G / September 11, 2015
He is the first person to fly the biggest aircraft A380 and he is a highly respected very senior pilot, and no doubt he will have the skills and the ability to run this big organisation. Good luck to him. He is the ideal person.
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justice / September 11, 2015
colin,
The most suitable person would be one who has wide experience in airline management, and should/could have been recruited by internationally advertising the post.
This was done in the past, when Peter Hill was selected, and later fired by the former president, for not cancelling 40 passengers’ reservations on a flight to Sri Lanka from UK, to accomodate him and his entourage.
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colin / September 14, 2015
Most of these “management Gurus” have been flops.If their theories had bee succesful we should have seen the EU flourishing. Sadly we see Europe is reeling.economically.
Suren as an airline pilot and a reputed one so let us give him a chance and see whether he can deliver the goods. If he fails he should be shown the door
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Amarasiri / September 11, 2015
colin
“This guy is a pilot for Emirates and a renowned pilot and we should be happy that he is coming home to serve the National Airline. In my opinion he is amongst the best suited to be the CEO of Sri Lankan airline and we should give him all the cooperation in his new venture. “
These are two different skill sets.
One being the best pilot or engineer, and the other best overall CEO and General Manager.
The CEO position needs somebody with CEO and General Manager experience in running a large organization, a large corporation. Being a pilot, will not necessary acquire such skills.
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EX UL employee / September 11, 2015
Being a good Pilot alone will not make one a Good CEO specially for a troubled Airline line SriLankan.Ideally it should have been someone who have had proven track record for reviving ailing Business.This is what most Airlines in similiar situation would do(Malaysian for example)
AS for the claim that Rail will venture to only appoint suitable personnel and not cronies,well we all know it too well.(except you perhaps)
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kumaran / September 12, 2015
Yes, Amarasiri. The best we found for the Central bank was Arjuna. Suren is the best for Srilankan till we see a debacle !!
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Amarasiri / September 12, 2015
kumaran
“The best we found for the Central bank was Arjuna. Suren is the best for Srilankan till we see a debacle !!”
We had a foreigner, who got fired by Mahinda Rajapaksa. and he put his brother in law who failed the GCE OL.
We need foreigners, who will be rewarded and compensated based on:
1, Performance
2. Revenues
3. Profitability
4. Increase in Enterprise value
5. Small Salary Plus Big Bonus, based on Profitability and bench marked with the airline industry in performance.
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kumaran / September 12, 2015
Amarasiri, either we are devoid of skilled and reliable Executives or we have to make do with the paucity of our declined IQ! The best to change the Srimavo economy in 1971 was JRJ, the best to take-over from JRJ in 190 was RP, the best to take-over from RP was DBW, the best to take-over from a demoralized UNP in 1994 was CBK, the best to take-over from CBK and win the war was “u-no-hoo”, the best bet for peace and prosperity now is “yahapalanaya” Think about it! We have the best Finance Minister, the best Foreign Minister, the best in all areas. Lets enjoy and be happy.
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Amarasiri / September 12, 2015
kumaran
“Amarasiri, either we are devoid of skilled and reliable Executives or we have to make do with the paucity of our declined IQ! “
Microsoft has an Indian american as the CEO.
Google has an Indian American as the CEO.
Air Lanka had a foreigner as the CEO, and was chased by Medamulana MaRa, and replaced by his brother in law who failed the Sri Lanka GCE OL.
So. what happened to the competent Sri Lankan Executives and Entrepreneurs? They are probably working outside Sri Lanka, because Mahinda Rajapaksa established the culture of corruption, nepotism, cronyism, and incompetence and mediocrity as the primary criteria for selection.
So, we all need to thankful to Mr. Sirisena, Mr. Wickramasingha, Ms. Kumararunga, and all the civil societies in coming together to defeat MaRa, Mara and his cronies.
So, sing the Jaya Mangala Gatha in Pali on the defeat of Mara, Mara.
In Fact the Jaya Mangala Gatha was sung at the latest Parliament Opening.
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Ben Hurling / September 11, 2015
All plum positions tend to circulate among a few individuals and their families.
Even though the UNP has been out of power for 20 years. Same old monkeys with same old wine keep popping up. From here and there.
All this in a country that supplies top talent to major corporations and universities around the world.
As far as I know, the CEO has to be appointed by the board after a due diligence. But, the board is packed with corrupt political cronies without any industry knowledge.
Cheers!
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Amarasiri / September 11, 2015
Ben Hurling
“As far as I know, the CEO has to be appointed by the board after a due diligence. But, the board is packed with corrupt political cronies without any industry knowledge. “
1. The board is packed with corrupt political cronies.
2. The corrupt political cronies are appointed by elected politicians.
3. The elected politicians are selected and elected by the voters.
4. Some of the voters are Modayas, Mootals and Fools with average IQ 65.
5. Some of the voters have common sense with average IQ 93.
6. It is a vicious circle.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / September 12, 2015
Dear Ben,
Small island syndrome! Everybody is someone’s somebody. If one is not, there is no place or recognition. Please check
Please check Captain Ratwatte’s genealogy on Google. It is impressive. He has connections that he probably is unaware. Thank God, he is at least a good and experienced pilot, is intelligent and probably has administrative talent.
Dr. RN
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Ben Hurling / September 12, 2015
Dr. Narendran,
Appreciate your response very much. Thanks.
Just like you, I recognize realities of “small island syndrome” as well.
Captain Ratwatte is no doubt a highly skilled pilot. A decent man too, I hope. I have nothing against his appointment personally.
I just want to make sure it is done in line with best practices. If this appointment is rooted in a smart business strategy to move SriLankan forward, I have no problem at all. However, I doubt that is the case.
SriLankan is a critical national asset. Totally mismanaged, ever since its inception.
We must change it now. SriLankan must break into profitability. We cannot keep funding it.
In addition, it must provide this little country that critical hub connectivity. We so need it to grow our economy.
Citizenry must have zero tolerance for endless cronyism. If we are to build a new Sri Lanka.
Cheers!
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / September 13, 2015
Ben,
Thanks.
One other truth that applies to Sri Lanka is,’ Mediocrity breeds mediocrity’. I have seen in most developed and rapidly developing countries, the theme is ,’Excellence breeds excellence’.
We have abandoned that principle with independence and have embraced everthing else including nepotism as a management principle, in all fields.
Our gigantic cabinet illustraes this. Even in the rare instance of a person like G.L.Piris being nominated to parliament and given cabinet rank, he was reduced to becoming a cad of sorts! In Tamil we say, even a calf reared with piglings, will learn to eat human waste!
Dr.RN
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kudu lanza / September 11, 2015
Another son of a so and so. All in the Game. You scratch my arse and Ill scatch yours. Batalanda Ranil has done another Mahendran scam. Way to go YahaluPaalana.
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SANEMINDED / September 12, 2015
You should be a Meeharakek not to have got it let alone today. Not only RW but also UPFA has the word in selecting ones for the national govt. Here it is unfair to attack RW again and again. I am not RW fan, but UNP is the only party that kept away appointing any defeated to the National lists of MPs. Even JVPers appointed defeated ones. Rosi and several others being defeated – even if Rosy Senanayake is a taleted politicians, RW did not appoint her to any of the offices yet. That alone should give you buggers an example about the way RW wants country to move forward.
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Sarath / September 11, 2015
Is an airline captain qualified to manage an airline?
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AZ / September 11, 2015
if an O/L failed guy was the CEO in the previous regime (Shiranthi’s bro) I believe being a airline captain with so many years experience is definitely good enough
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SB / September 11, 2015
Answer is no! case in point was JR’s nephew Rakitha Wickramanayake who was a pilot in Singapore Airlines. He made a mess of Air Lanka as Chairman ,though he had Singaporean advisors.Ofcourse MR’S brother in law takes the cake for incompetance
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mike / September 12, 2015
SB
“Of course MR’S brother in law takes the cake for incompetence.”
Be that as it may, Nishantha (Nakia) was competent in creating off spring out of his “flying angels” just like nephew, playboy Namal Rajapassa. It appears all cases on these two are permanently closed!!
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Sinhala_Man / September 12, 2015
Rakitha Wikramanayake is my second cousin, but I’ve never met him. I don’t think that he can be described as JR’s nephew, although one can never be sure unless one has pored over family trees and the like. For instance, my youngest sister is married to a guy who is indeed a very close relative of the Junius Rex crowd. In fact, at the wedding in 1985 the place was overflowing with Jayawardenas; Junius Rex was one attesting witness and Rakitha’s father, Eric Byrd W., Queen’s Counsel and Sir John K’s Minister of Justice, was the other.
My BIL left for America (I won’t tell you which University etc because we must have our own privacy) soon after, got himself a very good PhD, and I have met him just twice after that.
I’m telling you all this because so much rubbish has been written about who is who. For instance, when talking about Chaturani Sirisena’s walk about, commenter Amarasiri, for whom I still have a great deal of respect, had written some very incorrect things about the new Secretary/Defence (Karunasena Hettiarachchi), and Amarasiri has acknowledged that most of what he states as fact is just hearsay – and so many of us idiots waste such a lot of time reading all this.
We must create a meritocracy in which a person’s “connections” are neither a qualification nor a disqualification. For a start, the fact that Suren Ratwatte and Rakitha are both pilots is a qualification, but as many have pointed out that does not guarantee managerial skills.
Actually, Rakitha had plenty of skills, but was always obsessed with making money; so unlike his brother Elanga D. W., who was Solicitor-General until Junius R.J. sadistically got Elanga’s brother-in-law, Shelton Ranaraja, then Deputy Minister of Justice, to send Elanga on compulsory leave. He was later asked to come back, but refused to – somewhat similar to what happened to Dr Vickremabahu Karunaratne.
Most Sinhalese have forgotten Shelton Ranaraja, but I’m sure Tamils have not. Both Shelton and Elanga have gone to their well-deserved rest. But, in January this year, I had a chat with Sunethra, wife to Elanga and sister to Shelton. She said that at the 2010 Presidential Elections, Shelton, like me, had voted for Dr Bahu. Sunethra has done the same Kundasale Diploma in Agriculture as President Maithri.
Why have older Tamils not forgotten Shelton? Because in the aftermath of July 1983, JRJ introduced legislation designed to ensure that Appapilai Amirthalingam would lose both Leadership of the Opposition and his seat in Parliament. The only person from the UNP to vote against this iniquity was Shelton Ranaraja, whose name thereupon began to sound “Tamil” to many Sinhalese. He was M.P. for Senkadagala.
Those who don’t learn the lessons of History will have to re-live the horrors that we have just managed to shake off.
THINK, THINK, THINK!
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Arthur / September 12, 2015
Yes,Shelton Ranaraja had the guts to do what he thought was right.It was the no confidence motion against the then Leader of the Opposition.Nowhere in the world there would be such no confidence be brought as obviously the opposition will be in minority.But JRJ the ultimate dictator he was, did not mind throwing the traditions out of the window,was instrumental in bringing this resolution.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / September 12, 2015
Sinhala-man,
Thank you. Indeed the Tamils have not forgotten Shelton Ranaraja, His daughter is in the Foreign Service now and I found her to ba very cultured lady.
Dr.RN
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Sinhala_Man / September 13, 2015
Thanks, Dr.Rajasingham Narendran.
However, I have made a mistake – which won’t really matter.
Attesting witness at my sister’s wedding was Elanga D. Wikramanayake, whose youngest brother is also still around – name Elara (sic) Balabadra W.
Eric Byrd Wikramanayake (carefully note spelling) was attesting witness at MY wedding many years earlier. He had passed away by the time of my sisters wedding. His father was Edward Beauchamp (pronounced Beecham – same as the conductor – of the London Symphonic, wasn’t it?) W. who became a proctor after retiring as a clerk in government service. His two sons, EBW and EGW were both Queen’s Counsel, and lectured the old man who practiced even when he was over ninety years old, often appearing free in what would today be called “Fundamental Rights” cases. He and I were apparently very fond of each other when I was a baby. Ian Wikramanayake was the rather bitter and envious son of another son of Beauchamp, who acquired fame as Bribery Commissioner in the 1970s. Ian’s father had died young.
Apart from writing a few law books which are supposed to be still in use, Eric Byrd wrote some books on feathered birds! Some of his grandsons are distinguished environmental campaigners.
This will actually lead you to a picture of my great grand-father: No, I’m sorry, that is no longer on the Internet, and I must post this hurriedly and attend to chores. Anyway he worked at Richmond for 49 years. His brother was an Anglican priest who died young; Prof Thomas William Wikramanayake (Bio Chemistry) was one of the priest’s sons (youngest, I think). Most doctors depend on his book for Sri Lanka diets.
However, I have come across this site just now: I have the book myself, whose author is a Buddhist.
https://thuppahi.wordpress.com/2015/03/19/a-rich-history-richmond-college-galle/#more-16044
Many may think all this irrelevant rot, and just now (literally) I’ve stumbled (metaphorically) on to this:
http://www.geni.com/people/Vincent-Wikramanayake/6000000006842925175
My apologies if I’m proving to be a pain! The afore-mentioned Vincent W. was a Proctor and was Member of the State Council for Hambantoata East until his clerk defeated him. The clerk’s name Don Mathew Rajapaksa. I don’t know whether a “rice flour pancake” dinner preceded that “betrayal”!
I’ve tried to be as accurate as a guy with no training in historiography can be! If you need to ask more, please do so – and be sure that I will honestly tell what I know, and acknowledge any mistakes that I unwittingly make.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / September 13, 2015
Sinhala-man,
Thanks. I had the pleasure of being taught Biochemistry by Dr.Tommy Wickremanayake. I yet remember his comment on our eating habits and that of the Europeans, :” We produce a bucket full and they produce only a cup full” referring to human waste. Hs wife, who was an anatomist asked me many penetrating questions, whem I presented a lecture on my doctoral research in later years.
Thanks.
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Sinhala_Man / September 13, 2015
Now, Uncle Tommy’s wife is still a workaholic. What did you call her? Timmy, or Prof. Eugene Wikramanayake. I put my e-mail address down somewhere, but it would not be etiquette for me to tell you exactly where she lives in Rajagiriya, but she, too, is a fantastic person, isn’t she? Quite a scholar of Buddhism – Prof. K.M. Jayatilleke (after whom the Peradeniya Hall is named) was her first cousin.
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Agnos / September 13, 2015
Sinhala_Man,
Given what you say, Nalin Wikramanayake, a few years senior to me at Peradeniya who went on to earn a PhD in Civil Engineering at MIT and returned to Sri Lanka, and was for a time at the Open University, could be the son of the professor you mentioned ( we knew his parents were both professors, but didn’t know other details).
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Sinhala_Man / September 13, 2015
Yes, Nalin is still with the Open University, I believe. It is difficult to keep track of other people when one doesn’t know where one is heading oneself!
He was in New Zealand for about a year and a half; had an email or two. I think that he was in Hamilton – can’t be checking it now – I knw=ew for certain once upon a time! But you know the sort of guy he is. Will come in and be immensely helpful when it is possible for him to contribute with that wonderful intellect of his. Then disappears. Always hated hypocrisy; never got involved in controversies that have no end!
I’ll have to ask my daughter to give me the details of his children etc. Ethnicity has been the subject dominating our country for so long, and everything in these discussions, so may I approvingly tell you that his mother-in-law is “Tamil” – Dr Selvi … I can’t remember what her maiden name was. His father-in-law is, of course, Dr Lalith Perera. Let it be at that for the time being.
Technically, although Nalin and I are only 3rd cousins, we know each other very well indeed.
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Agnos / September 14, 2015
Thanks for the details, Sinhala_Man. Even among my many friends and in my extended family, on my wife’s side, there are many inter-ethnic marriages.
I will leave it at that for now, since this thread is on another topic.
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DHL / September 17, 2015
Sinhala_Man – Could you shed some light on who G B Wikramanayake is. I believe he was a consummate crook (chicken man) under the Sirimavo B govt. by appointing himself chairmanships to many govt. installations for his business convenience…
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Sinhala_Man / September 22, 2015
Uncle Gamini is still around (I guess I’d better not tell you where he live since, like many other Sri Lankans, you seem highly antagonistic towards him!)
Anyway, starting with my great-grandfather: http://www.geni.com/people/Charles-Edward-Wikramanayake/6000000003352818525
He is a grand-son of the above schoolmaster of Richmond, who married two sisters – the second after the first had died, obviously. Such was the lot of women before contraceptives were developed, I guess!
Gamini B. W, is first cousin to my late mother, and to Eric Byrd W. – of the persons mentioned above: you should be able to work out the relationship to others from the information I’ve already given you. However, have I not already gone too far in providing genealogies etc, for which I, in any case have no great interest?
Anyway he was a good accountant, and co-founded the firm Hulugalle and Wikramanayake. Felix Dias Bandaranaike and he married two sisters, Lakshmi and Malkanthi Jayasundera. Yes, they had broiler farms, “Three Acre” and, I think, Naiwala. I just can’t remember all those details! After the LSSP left the Sirima B. government in 1975 or so, Uncle Gamini wore many hats – simultaneously! He was Chairman, Bank of Ceylon, Additional Secretary/Public Administration etc. He became the bete noire of Dr N.M. Perera. He isn’t that bad a man, the problem with him possibly was that he appeared arrogant, and took no trouble to talk politely. He’s old and feels lonely now; my daughter has occasional chats with him, but I don’t even have his phone number. He has not been unkind to me when we meet, but of course, they all tend to be condescending to me – a poor relation!
Please, any others, try to work out from the much I have already provided you with. I don’t know ALL my relatives. However, that genealogy I have asked about. My second cousin who “manages” it doesn’t (according to a third cousin who spends all his time working these things out) know certain things which is why it is incomplete.
“The old order changeth, yielding place to new,
And God fulfils Himself in many ways,
Lest one good custom should corrupt the world.”
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Native Vedda / September 23, 2015
Sinhala_Man
“After the LSSP left the Sirima B. government in 1975 or so”
It is not true that NM left the coalition but Felix sacked LSSP from the then government.
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Agnos / September 13, 2015
Sinhala_Man,
Shelton Ranaraja took pains to visit Jaffna and meet some of the Tamil MPs he had befriended in parliamnet. While he was traveling back to Kandy after such a visit, the LTTE harassed him by stopping his vehicle and briefly detaining him somewhere near Kilinochchi. The LTTE was criticized openly for this by many, including the late Thondaman; many others who were afraid to condemn the LTTE publicly did so privately. Tamils considered for people like him and the late Sarath Mutthetuwegama as very fair minded, and respected them.
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chuti putha / September 14, 2015
Amrith Jayawardena , JR s grandson was a pilot for Air Lanka too when he made a mess where he flew the days he want and called sick when he wasn’t feeling ,,,I was told how he brought a bucket full s*** to the courts to prove that he had a bad tummy when the airline sacked him,, JR did have these types during his dharmishta palanaya.
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Niranjala G / September 11, 2015
Well Done Suren, Congratulations,
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eusense / September 11, 2015
Does anybody know his current position in Emirates?
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Balawathi Jayasinghe / September 12, 2015
I only know that Captain Ratwatte is one of the few that was invited to try the A380.
That should say everything about his senior piloting expereience.
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080824/FinancialTimes/ft327.htm
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Real Peace / September 11, 2015
Is he employed as a porter or a senior administrative officer by the Emirates? Why can’t the CT be more specific when it reports a story of this nature? Has this chap got the job because his sibling is an advisor to the PM? If he is a porter now this appointment is deplorable, but if he is a SAO I have no problem with this appointment. Over to CT!
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Tassimo / September 12, 2015
He was one of the first in the world to fly the A-380 Airbus behemoth. He is one of the top most pilots in the world and ONLY Sri Lankan Pilot to be mentioned in the Book “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell for exceptional actions. Please do not show your inferiority complex as a Sinhalese with low down attacks. Masters at Embry Riddle the best Aeronautical school; they dont give them out to Rajapakses for money. You have to EARN them. Managerial skills may not be that much but he is a highly intelligent qualified person perhaps more suited for COO but will do well as CEO as long as there is no political interference. He made great money being a top pilot for Emirates. What are your credentials Real Peace? have you even met this bloke? Widely read, well informed and highly skilled ethical pilot. They won’t steal like the Rajapakse appointees or the Yahapalana political appointees. Why not judge him in a few years?
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vishvajith / September 11, 2015
I am sorry, bad choice. The organization needed a Commercial Manager as it’s CEO and not a Pilot to lead it.
Here’s Lee Kuan Yew on JRJ and Airlanka.
” He wanted to start an airline because he believed it was a symbol of progress. Singapore Airlines (voted as the Best Airline Year 2000 in the Fortune Magazine’s recent issue) employed a Sri Lankan captain. Would I release him? Of course, but how could an airline pilot run an airline? He wanted Singapore Airlines to help. We did “.
The farce of the Airline Continues. How bloody sad.
V.
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Ben Hurling / September 11, 2015
Indeed. SriLankan Airline will continue to bleed. Sucking resources dry from impoverished tax payers.
SriLankan should be run like a serious business. In an extremely tough market which international aviation is. We live in the era of Emirates, Qatar, Virgin & Ryanair.
Appointing cronies based on old connections is not going to rescue us.
Is the way UNP intends to run state enterprises? If so, we won’t end up very far from former King Kong’s dubious, entrepreneurial achievements.
Cheers!
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Justice & Fairplay / September 11, 2015
How fair is this?
What is WRONG in having Charitha Ratwatte’s brother as CEO if he knows his onions?
Do you mean to say anyone who is an old Royalist or known to Ranil Wickremasinghe gets automatically disqualified for any job of importance, merely on account of those two
Come on! Where was this writer in the last 10 years?
What matters is, be it Charitha Ratwatte’s brother or not; is he qualified for the job? That’s it. The rest is irrelevant!
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Harry Hatton / September 11, 2015
Was there a transparent competitive selection process ?
All the present Board members of Sri Lankan airline are unsuitable and dubious wheeler dealers and Ranil cronies just there to collect the perks.( why not for the sake of yahapalanaya publicize their perks and benefits for the education of the biggest stake holder-the people of this country )
Under previous government Mahinda Rajapakse’s office assistant Sajin Vaas Gunawardena had his brother manoj Vaas appointed CEO of Sri Lankan airline.
Now ranil’s office assistant Charitha Ratwatte gets his brother appointed CEO of the sri lankan airline.
What has changed ?
The only difference is that Sajin Vaas is from Ambalangoda and Ratwatte is from Colombo 7.
Atleast why wont the Board publicize the selection criteria adopted in this appointment ?
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AZ / September 11, 2015
There is another major difference.. Charitha Ratwatte’s brother is an educated & qualified guy while Sajin or his brother are not!!!
And Sajin Vaas was a mega rogue!! hence the reason he is still in remand withot bail
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Eshantha / September 12, 2015
AZ,
As an ex-employee of the airline, I beg to differ. Sajin and his brother are two different individuals, as for the qualifications your statement that he is not educated or qualified it is wrong ! Had you just bothered to find out…..
Do not malign people under the cloak of anonymity please
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confu tao / September 11, 2015
Suren was a manager of Human Factor at Emirates prior to this appointment. Never heard of Human Factor in organizational arrangements or functions and it will be good for the public to know how this experience qualifies him for this top position. Certainly does not look like it was a senior appointment and what we would like to know is whether the position was advertised with clear terms of reference and whether there was a transparent process in place for shortlisting and interviewing the candidates. I would have thought that for such an important CEO position, the minimum qualification should be previous experience as a CEO of a major airline. It must also be understood that the skills required for piloting an airplane are not the same as those required for a CEO. The board of Sri Lankan airlines should have researched the CEO positions of other intentional airlines and I am sure that you will find that rarely are pilots running these airlines. I am told that the car industry is now looking for taxi drivers to head the CEO position of the major car manufacturers.
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maalumiris / September 12, 2015
So you not having heard of “Human Factor” means it doesn’t exist ?
Please check on google for Emirates Human Factor
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Piyal / September 11, 2015
I wish to be a brother of advisor
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gogomahinda / September 11, 2015
Why have we always thought that just because one is a pilot (Rakitha.W comes to mind) this gives him managerial capacity?
Unless this guy was in senior management with Emirates?
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gamini / September 11, 2015
A Gentleman to the finger tips. The right type of people for this sort of post, unlike the [Edited out] type who ruined the Airline before under MR.
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Point of View / September 11, 2015
He may be better than the vulgar brother-in-law of Medamukana Meeharaka, however it would have been better if a few others were short listed and put through a proper selection process.
He may be a very good pilot but can he deliver as a CEO of a national carrier ? He should know better to accept the role or not.
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words / September 11, 2015
Isn’t good governance about a proper and transparent selection process, where a number of possible good candidates for the job are given an equal chance to present their case on why they would be the best candidate for the job???
For heavens sake Ranil, when you were made PM.. everybody said “walk the talk Ranil”.. well…what on earth do you think you are doing? Walking backwards????
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baludeen / September 11, 2015
nepotism????
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shankar / September 11, 2015
as long as you have public enterprises there will be nothing called merit in appointments.So we the people will have to have them like a hot potato on our lap.Why should we?privatise all these public enterprises as soon as possible.Governments are not in the business of running businesses at profits and paying a dividend to the people.Their role is to govern the country,not to try to do things that they have not been asked to do.
We do not need a national airline to feather the nest of politicians.
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confu tao / September 11, 2015
Oh, the same practices are being followed again. Appointments to such senior executive positions must be made after a transparent process of advertising to ensure the best candidate get the job. Suren’s appointment smacks of cronism and membership of the old boys club. Surely when one looks at his CV, the position held previously is a relatively low level managerial one, and this promotion to be the CEO of UL is a gigantic leap for him and one that would never have been achieved if not for the contacts. Being a pilot whilst useful, is not the main qualification for a CEO position. Sri Lankan airlines experienced a similar situation when JR appointed a pilot from Singapore airlines to run Air Lanka, and which was a disastrous experience as this guy could fly a plane but lacked strategic and business thinking. The result was that the airline ended up making huge losses. RW and team better start introducing real governance which means that such executive positions should not be reserved for the friends and family which our previous king soon found out was a big mistake.
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Kumar Sandirasegaram / September 11, 2015
I don’t believe RW can see further than Colombo 7 when he selects persons for the top jobs in Sri Lanka. In addition he seems to have a blind spot foe women because he cannot find a suitable women to take over any senior jobs. Women can be Doctors lawyers, Scientist ,but not top CEO’s. He hasn’t got a clue about gender discrimination or selecting people from middle and lower class families either. Please some one try and send him on an equal opportunity course so that he will understand about inbuilt discrimination that exist in our society.
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Justice & Fairplay / September 11, 2015
“Sri Lankan Airlines: Charitha Ratwatte’s Brother Appointed As New CEO”
This is simply poor journalism, giving a lot of spin to the fact that Suren was ‘Charitha Ratwatte’s brother’.
It would have been far more professional to have said ‘ Suren Ratwatte appointed CEO of Sri Lankan’ and merely stated incidentally that he was a brother of Charitha Ratwatte.
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Roy Josh / September 11, 2015
This appointment reflects the sad state of affairs when it comes to true good governance . here is an ailing company which needed immediate surgery to survive. First , a bunch of persons with little or no knowledge of the aviation industry are appointed as directors . Glaringly , the chairman is not known for his assertive leadership in the business world and then an EU parliament MP who is more a court jester, along with another duty free specialist with a shady past , all three (and others in the board) possess aviation industry know how which can fit into a pin head.
Selection for the key positions were advertised but they have faithfully stuck to the old Lankan tradition of nepotism and an opaque process to go with it. This Pilot may have flown a large airplane for a large airline which has never drying waterfall of funds (mixed with crude oil) and how they chose him over the others with the right credentials in the industry leaves a big question to ponder . They have a pilot for a CEO , idiots on the board and no competency in the ranks , left to bleed by the previous regime, two airlines for a small country !!!! What more do you want Prime Minister . Srilanka’s aviation industry is one of the oldest in the region and remains truly archaic at present . Bring back the likes of Harry Jayawardena as executive chairman to make this work or do something equally daring , dont leave this airline in the hands of sycophants leading to a fast decay , act now
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Indra / September 11, 2015
[Edited out]
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Patriot / September 11, 2015
Everybody is following the footsteps of the president. When the country’s president appoints his brother to head the Telecom, the second in command in the country Ranil follows his master and do the same blunder. Sirisena and Ranil having guaranteed the support of 115 MPs who were bribed with (cabinet, non cabinet ,district development council chairmanships)plum positions are hell bent to ruin the country by appointing their henchmen to top positions.
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sarath de alwis / September 11, 2015
I believe this selection was through a transparent process.There is nothing wrong in selecting a qualified pilot for the task. I think it is an excellent choice. I have nothing but contempt for Ranils elitism. That said this selection should not be questioned simply because he is some ones brother. He is light years ahead of any other Sri Lankan contender. He may infuse efficiency. But not profitability. Sri Lankan airlines does not make a profit in any of its routes. It has to restructure it self and go in for a partnership with a Gulf based mega carrier or perhaps an Indian domestic carrier. Any further infusion of funds is throwing good money after bad.
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Ex Ul Employee / September 11, 2015
Mr.De Alwis
Surely you know too well what happened to Airlanka when it was run by another glorified Pilot.It is not Mr.Ratwatte’s professional qualifications in his own area of expertise is being questioned but the know how that is now needed to turn around the troubled Airline.This task is beyond the capabilities of even most of Senior Airline Managers.
Well on the other hand if the Govt under Ranil Wickramasinghe is not that keen in seeing the Airline profitable,then of course there is nothing wrong in the appointment notwithstanding the so called ‘Royal” connections.
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edward thennakoon / September 11, 2015
Roy Josh….definitely not Harry Jayawardena, who became a bull in the china town when he was appointed as chairman AirLanka. He looked after his business interests by introducing his DCSL Arrack on board and prohibited Mendis special serving. Then he ordered his stassen food stuff to be purchased by Air Lanka catering …Milk foods, yogurt, Tea etc etc all change to his own brands and appointed a manager to oversee the utilization of his brands by Air Lanka. This company dose not need the same crook for a second time.
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rio ziegelaar / September 11, 2015
If he has the qualifications then it is immaterial who his realated too. But just only because he is a good Pilot does not mean he can be a COE or a good one at that. It is almost like, you can be the best football player in this world, but it does not go to prove you can be the best trainer too.
Let’s see in 2 years from now where the Airline is.
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Shehan De Silva / September 11, 2015
Suren is an Excellent choice for the post of CEO for SriLankan Airlines. He had a brilliant start having his early education from St Thomas’s Prep School in Kollupitiya. He is a decent, honest and hardworking guy who has had great exposure to the International Aviation World.
He won’t have a frog in the well mentality because of the exposure he has had working for the most successful Airline in the World – Emirates for over 25 years. He is also well qualified academically with a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree from the World renowned Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Give him a chance without just slagging him without any reason. He will do a great job with his intelligence, expertise and knowledge. He has not taken on this job to make money as he is from a wealthy background. This is a once in a life time challenge for Suren who can make our National Carrier something we can all be proud of.
Good Luck & Best Wishes to you Suren to turn our ailing National carrier around and do get rid of some of the deadwood Board Members you have to work with who are more a liability than people who would contribute positively to the success of the Airline.
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Point of View / September 12, 2015
This is not about Suren or his once in a life time challenge ! We are talking about our ailing national carrier !!
If the guy is so good and CEO material, why didn’t Emirates identify him for greater responsibilities ? management committee, main board ?
He is a damn good pilot, a professional and a good human being. Period.
CEO for an ailing national career ? No way !
By accepting this role, he has only thought about himself ! That’s being selfish !!
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confu tao / September 12, 2015
Shehan, Suren will be carrying a learner plate around his neck when he gets the CEO job. The airline is already in financial difficulties and the learning curve of this CEO who has never ever been a CEO before is going to terribly hurt the airline. This is taxpayers money that is being spent and good governance appears to have been completely discarded when making this appointment. A position like this should have been opened up to the international market to find the most able and skilled leader. A manager of Human Factor at Emirates airline tells it all.
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Upul / September 11, 2015
Mr. Ratwatte’s flying experience HAS NO impact on his ability to manage a business. What experience does he have managing commercial operations, labor disputes and strategic planning? I will say NIL.
Moreover, how much is he being paid? Is he giving up his Emirates perks to join Sri Lankan? This is what the PM’s office needs to tell you and I. Transparency my a……
Being a pilot and being appointed CEO is like having a Wadu-baas becoming chairman of Arpico – Because they sell furniture!
This is RW appointing his inner circle to places of influence. I understand why it is happening but don’t bullshit the country by pretending that it is smart move! Strangely the previous CEO has at least managed a big commercial operation and would know how and what needed to be done.
Remember Capt. Rakkitha of Air Lanka fame. JRJ’s son Ravi was instrumental in that appointment and those from the industry know how well that went.
It seems like Sri Lanka can’t get over the royalist trap. Maybe the elitist mentality has really been bred into all our DNA’s.
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Rakitha / September 11, 2015
Isn’t he a better option than that old fool of a planter who was more interested in dandifying himself and running after young stewardesses and who ran the airline to the ground?
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Point of View / September 12, 2015
Two wrongs don’t make a right !
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