The Airline Pilots Guild of Sri Lanka has served noticed to the management of Sri Lankan Airlines that they would take appropriate action to protect their membership within 48 hours if their innocent member pilot Capt. Sujith Jayasekara who was falsely accused of refusing to comply with a breathalyzer test by the management prior to his flight departure on the 28th of August 2016 to Bangkok is not re-instated.
Chairman Ajit Dias
The ALPGSL sent in two letters one addressed to CEO Capt. Suren Ratwatte informing him to abandon the flawed breathalyzer test procedure with immediate effect that is currently being practiced until the Civil Aviation Authority, the company and the pilots agree on a procedure that is acceptable to all stake holders concerned. The letter also went to state that Capt, Jayasekara should be re-instated with immediate effect, as all evidence points out to the fact that he never refused to comply with the breathalyzer test.
In another letter addressed to the Director General H.M.C. Nimalasiri of the Civil Aviation Authority, the ALPGSL also wrote in requesting him to intervene and stop the flawed breathalyzer test process immediately.
Majority of the pilots now believe that this is a witch hunt instigated by the Chairman Ajith Dias and CEO Capt.Suren Ratwatte as Capt. Jayasekara is one of the most vociferous of pilots that SriLankan Airlines has ever had. On numerous occasions at management and pilot meetings Capt.Jayasekara has challenged the management’s decisions, incompetence and reasons as to why the lawyer J.C.Weliamuna led Board of Investigations into the national carrier and their subsequent findings have not been implemented to date.
A senior pilot speaking on condition of anonymity as he is not permitted to speak to the media said ” Now we feel the Director General H.M.C.Nimalasiri of CAA is back pedaling this case too as he has always done in the past. It is understood that there is enormous pressure exerted on him by Chairman Dias and CEO Capt. Ratwatte as they are frequently selling the name of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and threatening the Director General to do what they desire”.
Over 60 pilots congregated at today’s Emergency Ordinary General Meeting which was held yesterday.
Rajeeva / September 6, 2016
Very soon Srilankan Airlines as a whole will have to take a breathalyzer test!!Chairman Dias and CEO Rats must now realize that managing an airline is a sophisticated job and is a world apart from manufacturing little jungis, selling cups of coffee and being holed up in a little cockpit for hours on end, respectively.
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Antany Peter / September 7, 2016
This is a drinking club not a national airlines, Ranil doesn’t understand the depth of it, but continue to rescue this drinking club with poor tax payers money. Worse of all, this ignorance fools continue to insult hard working Asians by calling themselves as knowledge hub and wonder of Asia.
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Jagath Fernando / September 7, 2016
Loss for the month of Aug 2016 is around Rs 1 billion and expect a total Lois of Rs 12-15 billion for 2016.
No one is bothered and no one is accountable.
Nishantha W was not responsible during MARA and Ajith D is not responsible during RW.
We have 250 staff per aircraft when the average is less than 150 per aircraft. Our ground handling and catering costs are very high compared to the region.!!!
Same shit and a different set of flies !!!
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jim softy / September 6, 2016
when trade unions are this powerful, a business can notbe run.
that need to be changed.
Because, pilots were captured dalaying flights. So, why should not other pilots should not go through random checks.
It is Trade union dictatorship. If the trade union does not learn, better to sell the air line to a private company who can manage it.
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Amarasiri / September 6, 2016
The Airline Pilots Guild of Sri Lanka
“The Airline Pilots Guild of Sri Lanka has served noticed to the management of Sri Lankan Airlines that they would take appropriate action to protect their membership within 48 hours if their innocent member pilot Capt. Sujith Jayasekara who was falsely accused of refusing to comply with a breathalyzer test by the management prior to his flight departure on the 28th of August 2016 to Bangkok is not re-instated.”
Yes, the innocent and performing pilots should not be penalized because of idiots and nitwits in the security section of the airport.
Request that they do IQ tests for ALL security personnel at the Airports.
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lasantha / September 6, 2016
It is good chance to get rid off this guys. 29th august 2016 these guys delayed the flight of UL504 at Heathrow more than 11 hours and 24 minutes and paid compensation of nearly £640000 to passengers. This incident happened few days after that Frankfurt incident. All SL media including colombotelegraph hided this matter. This a right time to higher the best Pilots from abroad to meet the srilankan airline needs not for the SL pilots needs.Normal civilians burdens need to be resuce rather concentrating on this idiots.
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Kugan / September 6, 2016
The country is in mess for very long time.start from school level ,,then the uni,then the active politics by GMOA they decide what the politicians should do,then comes the clergies,, welikada and parliament are filled with.
Where do we start from.I think that pilot not only reinstate should compensated.
The management has done a very bad reputation for the struggling air line and loose confidence and trust among the passengers view.
I have respect for the tremendous work done by the all employees to keep the air line alive.they do it every possible way and very hard.sadly the politics mix up things.
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Don Quixote / September 6, 2016
Here is your chance…close down the airline !
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Amarasiri / September 7, 2016
Don Quixote,
“Here is your chance…close down the airline ! “
Better yet, Auction it Off, and save on the losses.
The current workforce can work for the new buyer, if they experienced, qualified and productive.
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BBS Rep / September 7, 2016
Agreed. This eternally loss making enterprise must be shut down or privatised. Or auctioned off.
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Thanos / September 6, 2016
So now pilots are doing a GMOA?
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Analyst / September 6, 2016
@ Thanos
So now pilots are doing a GMOA??
What do you mean chap? Am I too thick to understand your Anachronism??
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jay / September 6, 2016
Fire all the pilots. like Lee Kuan Yew told the SQ guys he would.
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Steve / September 6, 2016
If they are not fit to do a job and not able to get end results, higher staff from India which will be cheaper and get results.
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Analyst / September 6, 2016
@ Steve
Excellent point.
“If they’re not fit to do a job , not able to get end results, higher staff from India which will be cheaper and get results”
Mix qualified Persons from abroad to work with these local UNQUALIFIED crooks to manage the InstitutionS will be the best option.
REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE INDIAN PRIVATE HOSPITALS WHO WERE PERFORMING HEART SURGERIES IN COLOMBO PRIVATE HOSPITALS in the 70s and 80 s? To high standard?
When the local health professionals thought these Institutions can be easily taken over by the local Politicians
( ?? GR &Co) and the Surgeons instead , they did just that.
What happened to those world class services rendered by the Indian surgeons ?? Gradual deterioration of the standard and the services was evident and the profits were FIDDLED ???? By whom do we know???
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Plato. / September 6, 2016
Out-source Srilankan Airlines.The decision to do so will solve all the problems!
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Funlover / September 6, 2016
Decapitate Ajit and Suren; sack all the staff; close down Sri Lankan Airline. The Country does not need a loss making white elephant.
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Plato. / September 6, 2016
With no offence to you Funlover.Have you come across a profit making White elephant?
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Gamini / September 7, 2016
It is with sadness we have to accept the fact that the Sri Lankan airlines is not performing to the required standard at all. Recently one of our friends (English family) travelled to Sri Lanka by SL airline and they were very unhappy about the cleanliness of the toilets and the very poor service provided by the airline. They told us that they would never fly by SL airlines in the future.
I wonder whether the management of the SL airline ever encourage the passengers to give a feedback.
This below average inefficient and uneconomic performance by the SL airlines is solely due to the poor management exhibited by the Chairman, CEO, and the Chief Operation Officer. I understand that all three of them are “Old Royalists” and they have been appointed by the fellow “Old Royalists” who are holding responsible ministries in the present government.
I do not have a problem in appointing “Old school ties”, friends or relatives as long as they have the qualifications and experience to run these institutions. But unfortunately the performance of the airline indicates that is not the case.
Just because one has studied in an elite school, comes from a privileged background and can speak in English are not relevant qualifications to manage these institutions at the highest level.
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colin / September 7, 2016
You seem to have a problem with Royal College and it seems you are using this forum to express your grievance. Your statement “just because one has studied in an elite school,comes from a privileged background and can speak English are not relevant qualifications to manage these institutions at the highest level” lets the cat out of the bag” of your anti-Royal rant.
There are many people out there who run down Royal and Royalists for the mere reason that they couldnt get their offspring into that institution I hope you are not one of that band,but you are a nationalist whose concern is for the National carrier to soar higher and higher into the skies.
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Kamal / September 7, 2016
On a serious note, I still don’t understand what the government is doing with this airlines losses. Still absorbing all the costs and doing nothing. One major issue is the overstaffed matter. What’s the action taken by the chairman or CEO? Well the puppet kekulawala hhr will still go on employing his friends’ daughters and etc., as he is not focusing on hr but csr activities on how to develop villages! I am sure he is a very unpopular person in the airline as if not these unions will not demand in such a manner. Head oh Hr should be a strong person where he can get involved and sort all industrial relations rather than getting CEO or chairman involved. At the same time there is a lot grade 11 manager in Hr who was involved in union negotiating and a grade 9 biyanwila (good for nothing puppet) what is the purpose of Hr? They also have recruited manager by trainees recently – and for what? When already it’s overstaffed, hhr keeps on recruiting. Seriously has he lost his mind? Who is paying for all these employees? It’s the money of the country’s people. We are taxed and taxes to pay these idiots. He is very popular for promoting ladies overnight for pleasure sakes (IAA trainer became grade 9 manager overnight in Hr)!
However I don’t blame the captains as if this is the frustration of the people in the country , how frustrated the employees can be! After all pilots have some dignity and they do a very responsible job.
Clean this airline from the beginning- reinstate the weliamuna report, send the pin padi employees home including hhr and his lady love and good for nothing manager. Someone start somewhere and reduce the burden for this country… These blood sucking employees who just get paid have to leave the company first.
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Manoj / September 7, 2016
Gamini I totally agree with you. Even I had to experience a
A similar situation where the cabin crew was so unprofessional and unclean. Their conduct was not up to the standard. I blame the management and the so called head who is incharge – Ola. He only know to listen to the sad stories of cabin crew and later her advantage but no action at all. Pathetic waste products. I am sure no organization will come forward and buy this airline as this is so much of politically affiliated- starting from head of Hr to interns.
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jay / September 7, 2016
All pilots have to take a breath test before flying a plane. If they refuse , they should be fired forthwith. The person who allowed that Capt to fly without taking it , should also be fired .
Where the heck has discipline gone, left with MR’s B i L, or Namal’s hostess ?
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Ahfzll / September 7, 2016
Much ado abou nothing …. the comments on tis article.
Get serious …. If CEYLON is to regain the respect it once had…..
Then let us hold anyone – in any postion of responsibility – liable to his F … er Muck ups.
The politicians exist ONLY because you cater to their whims and fancies.
When each of you take responsibility for what you are about – especially the politically appointed – ONLY then will we see a change.
DO NOT take on responsibilty thet you are cannot handle.
Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ministers, Political appointees all should come undre the scrutiny of their actions. If they foul up for what ever reason … they should be held responsible.
I should mention here that the OPPOSITION instead of shouting accusations be held responsible for their crass indifference to TRUTH.
Having said all that – If one cannot accept responsibility for the position bestowed upon him…. Lets us hold the person who bestowed such responsibility – RESPONSIBLE
Awaiting the rants from people who cannot take responsibilty for their incompetence.
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