A SriLankan Airlines Flight Steward was nabbed by Customs Officials for the carriage of a narcotic substance at Hamad International Airport Doha, Qatar last Wednesday Colombo Telegraph reliably learns.
The arrest had taken place when the male Cabin Crew Member of SriLankan Airlines had completed his flight duties and was passing through Customs with his operating crew.
Sources associated to the airline speaking on condition of anonymity said that the young 24 year old Cabin Crew Member had carried a narcotic substance in his suit case.
The Airline official went on to say that it is yet to be established what type of drug and quantity it was and also if he was carrying it for his personal consumption or if he was trafficking it.
SriLankan Airlines has had to deal with several drug related issues pertaining to their Cabin Crew in the past.
In 2013 a stewardess who was removed from flying duties and assigned ground duties was nabbed by Police when she was purchasing drugs in Pamankade.
A Manager from SriLankan Airlines when contacted confirmed that the In Flight Services management has been suspicious of several Cabin Crew Members who they feel are currently using banned substances. He said, “The airline has been very supportive in rehabilitating several Cabin Crew Members in the past who have been addicted to various narcotic substances and even alcoholism. Some who have managed to kick the habit have even progressed to hold managerial positions too within the Airline. We need to test all the Cabin Crew for the usage of narcotic substances. This should be made mandatory and also these tests should be completed randomly throughout the year. There are blood tests available now where it can identify the type of drugs used”.
“It is sad that the airline is getting a bad reputation from all of these incidents. We had a Flight Steward who was nabbed by Sri Lanka Custom officials recently when he smuggled gold into the country. This was when he was returning from a flight duty from Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. We also had to terminate a Cabin Manager when he was caught by UK Customs Officers when smuggling around 50 cartons of cigarettes into London Heathrow. The management needs to seriously crack down on Cabin Crew who are contributing in fast earning a reputation for being bootleggers, gold and drug smugglers,” the manager further said. (Khema Arudpragasam)
tuan shiraz / August 25, 2017
HANG HIM IN PUBLIC SOIL ON QATAR.
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Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / August 25, 2017
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Invincible / August 26, 2017
I don’t think Qatar is a country like that to hang people in public. Think better and don’t just utter things that come to ur head.
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Jagath Fernando / August 26, 2017
Oh damn it!!
After paying Rs 500,000 per month with allowances these stewards and stewardesses bring disrepute to the airline and the country as well!!
Sri Lankan has 7,500 staff for 20 aircraft with an average of 350 staff per aircraft when some efficient airlines run with 150 staff.
Sri Lankan has no future. It has debt of USD 500 m to the two state banks and another USD 500 m payable to cancel unnecessary Airbus order. Need USD 1 billion cash infusion immediately or GOSL has to take over such liability and give it to a private investor doing “dirty” business at 1 USD.
Good luck to yahapalanaya
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anonymous / August 27, 2017
RS.500,000.00 a Month?. Oh, my god!. I thought the Silly Lankans lived on Rs. 2500.00 a month according to the ‘viz kid’, Bandula Gunawardana. A house maid working 18 hrs a day 365/god knows how many years are paid a maximum of $450.00 a month. Mangala,close this stupid organization ASAP.
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Arsath / August 29, 2017
How about hanging you by your stick?
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Ad / August 25, 2017
Patriotic.
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Champa / August 25, 2017
Holy sh… So disgraceful! Sri Lankan Airlines logo should be changed from peacock to a weed leaf!
The National Drug Carrier of Sri Lanka! Another gift to the nation by Yahapalanaya.
We should not be surprised as the Sri Lankan Airlines management also acts like they themselves are under some drug.
President held a meeting recently to steamline and accelerate drug bust which was attended by the Minister of Law and Order, IGP and the Navy Commander. Now there is a good reason for him to add Air Force Commander too!
There are rehabilitated drug additcts in the crew? Yes, we should sympathize with them, however, they should not be allowed to work as cabin crew again. They should have been employed as ground crew as there is a huge difference between smugglers and addicts. Unlike addicts, smugglers are a part of a network which a part of a collosal drug mafia who will never leave their known smuggles alone to start a new life.
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Kanishka / August 25, 2017
What does yahapanaya got to do with this? Remember the previous regime in which a PM and son smuggled a container of drugs. During any Govt these things can happen because these are youth and we need better measures. Good luck to this steward
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Champa / August 25, 2017
Of course it is a result of Yahapalanaya. A cabin crew of Sri Lanka’s national carrier being apprehended with drugs, kills country’s reputation.
Former PM and his son’s involvement to the container of drugs only issuing a letter to release the container, obviously not knowing that there were drugs. They were not part of the drug trafficking. The businessman involved seemed to have misled them to get the letter.
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Raj / August 26, 2017
I am sure the politicos are innocent, what a shame
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old codger / August 26, 2017
“A cabin crew of Sri Lanka’s national carrier being apprehended with drugs, kills country’s reputation. “
What reputation, dear Champa?
Is the sight of 200 female slaves getting off the same flight a boost for our reputation?
Get real, my dear.
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Mudson Amarasinghe / August 26, 2017
Champa
Former PM and his son’s involvement to the container of drugs only issuing a letter to release the container, obviously not knowing that there were drugs. They were not part of the drug trafficking. The businessman involved seemed to have misled them to get the letter.
Holy Shit Dont tell me, the God Father of the drug smuggling ring had spent in millions for PM sons election work.
Champa seems you are doing the dirty work for the JO!
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Champa / August 26, 2017
I never knew, but heard from you that “godfather of the drug smuggling ring” whomever he is spent millions for former PM’s son…. Alright, where is this fellow now, the drug smuggler? And why didn’t Yahapalanaya jokers put him in jail? They came into power in January 2015, general election was held in August 2015, now it is 2017, what did Yahapalanaya do?
I never did any dirty work for JO. If I supported them, I did it in principle. When they did things not agreeable to be, I vehemently criticized them. Nowadays, they are not in my remotest thoughts.
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Srilal / August 27, 2017
Champa ,
“Former PM and his son’s involvement to the container of drugs only issuing a letter to release the container, obviously not knowing that there were drugs. They were not part of the drug trafficking. The businessman involved seemed to have misled them to get the letter.”
Wow , how did you come to such a hasty conclusion Champa ? Who has cleared their names this quick ? May be our squeaky clean former cheep justice M.Peris , please let us know .
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Jimsofty / August 26, 2017
So, former PM is a youth. That is why He gathered so many expensive billd for everything. His son Tried to burn Gampola aganst Maithripala. The same son, screwed Srilanan Airlines too I read. He has a court case. I am wondering whether the former PM cry infront of Maithripala’s falling on his knees and the son will be acquitted. that is thr Srilankan justice system former PM is a youth but he has a big beer belly which says he cannot be a youth. Why youths are in the parliament (inthis case A thug and a thief).
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Jimsofty / August 26, 2017
Sorry, It would have been written as former – PM’s Son is a youth.
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Nikki / August 28, 2017
Totally agree.
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MG / August 26, 2017
why do say this happened only during Yahapalanaya.. wow.. what a great observation…
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Arsath / August 29, 2017
Weed leaf is not a bad idea! Will attract more of the weed kind of customers
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shankar / August 25, 2017
yahapalanaya recruitment i presume.
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kasun / August 25, 2017
Unfortunately Sri Lankan has become such a sordid carrier, with actions of its staff despicable & disgraceful.
Recently a pilot who was (drunk over the stipulated limit) was not allowed to take control of a flight from Frankfurt, there was a flight delay and each passenger upon arrival at KIA was paid compensation in Euros
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Irandathi / August 25, 2017
All these jobs are obtained with political connections. Dont look far. The type of politicos we have isvthe standard brand and they give jobs to those who are like them. Sri Lanka has gone to the dogs!!!!! Money is God!!!!! People act worse than animals. Animals remember kindness, they are loyal to their masters and protect their home and are not corrupt!!!! Train some monkeys or robots — they will be better.
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Roaxann / August 26, 2017
“All these jobs”?
Know what you are talking about….Please!
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Chitra / August 26, 2017
Yes what’s said I’d true. With friends and family who joined the airline at the inception I can tell you standards have dropped due to political influence. Majority of flying crew have come through political pull and their grasp of basic english is nil. It’s a disgrace when they can’t even communicate to passrnfers but they do know how to make the little bit of English sound as if they have been living in a foreign country due to the accent. So please!!!
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whywhy / August 25, 2017
We just don’t have anything in our country to be proud of and just
nothing . Every single person is just greedy and so corrupt to the
core .Ministers,Lawyers,Doctors ,Police higher ups ,Teachers ,
Businesses , fathers and mothers , sons and daughters , schools
and hospitals and so on. You just name it. IT IS JUST ROTTEN .
SRILANKANS DON’T WANT TO BE THEMSELVES ! THEY ARE
DYING TO BE SOMEBODY ELSE BY ANY MEANS AND AT THE
END FIND THEMSELVES IN A BOTTOMLESS PIT .
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jehan / August 26, 2017
if drugs like heroin or cocain hang him
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eldorado / August 26, 2017
Humans everywhere are subject to the law of the land, and if they
break the law then they must be subjected to the law, AND DEALT ACCORDINGLY. The problem in Sri Lanka is that lawbreakers are NOT subjected to the law, the law is not enforced ON THEM for whatever reason, hence law breakers ( criminals) flourish, and the Country is a law less land, like Sri Lanka has become !!
Elementary Dear WATSON !!
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HTNJ / August 26, 2017
I agree with why/why totally. This is Sri Lanka whether you like it not! It is so easy to point fingers at others but everyone in this forum think for,a minute whether your pointed finger earns you another 4 pointing towards yourself! We are all a cause for this beautiful country to rot like this. In every walk of life we find atrocities and failures. Justice is a namesake! Think of how many people bribe in every day life for the most trivial or colossal thing? Im a Sri Lankan and as bad as everyone else! Stop complaining and try your level best to overcome this the way you can and even in little bits and pieces. Every little helps! If not you will have forums and newsletters to read and follow and tweet which 24 hours would not be enough! Do something not necessarily this but whatever you can to stop people making the wrong decision and messing up their lives and our Sri Lankan reputation!
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whywhy / August 26, 2017
HTNJ ,
My comment was neither a curse nor a wish , rather a disgustful
frustration over a prevailing reality that requires long term
genuine approach by far sighted leaderships . It is a country that
is rotting every single day . Not due to extreme poverty ! Not due
to lack of literacy and not due to lack of health or any other
essential services although they are not up to very high standard .
The chief culprits being , GREED and JELOUSY in all walks of life.
Life has been made a race instead of being a QUALITY LIFE ! Its
value is never understood because of this race ! Who are the
participants in this race ? IT IS ALWAY TOP TO BOTTOM . Just
take the race to school admission for an example ! How many
Royal colleges or Anandas can you have in the country to meet
the demand and why ? I know a family where husband not
working and mother is dress maker who send their daughter to
study British law without even good English skills , to a private
institute at the total cost of Rs 1.5 million ! Are they not fools
both the mother and daughter ? And these are the hopes of our
country for a better tomorrow ! These are some of the people
who shout about cost of living mixing with the real sufferers .
Just only one or two instances , the real situation on all fronts
are disgusting and awful . THE COUNTRY NEEDS DEDICATED
LEADERS ARMED WITH FAR REACHING RFORMS . AND
PEOPLE NEED TO LEARN THEIR LIMITS AND UNDERSTAND
THAT THERE ARE LIMITS FOR EVERYONE !
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Jonny / August 26, 2017
Is it true that he only consumes halal food and prays 5 times a day? Another sinhala buddhist conspiracy!
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Raj / August 26, 2017
It was always known that most cabin crew of the national airline were very enterprising, engaged in a lucrative business of supplying goods to order since the days of Airlanka. Naturally, they become bolder with experience & greed will make some of them even cross the line. However, particularly during the past regime, Srilankan Airlines nose dived into an all time low with the Management exploiting & abusing perks & privileges, setting a bad example down the line in the process.
The loss making national airline has always been for the benefit of the politicians & their cronies & continue to be so, which is why the treasury keeps pumping tax payers money into the airline with no real interest in turning it around..
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Non PhD / August 26, 2017
Don’t you all worry. The Airline Chief together with WR, will be visiting Malwatha Asgiriya for confessions and recieving forgiveness and blessings.
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Sunil / August 26, 2017
Three things are required – strict implementation of law, good parenting with religious values by attending religious places/sunday school in your early age and rapid economic development of the country to overcome all these problems. Good english education with world class skills so that people can move and work anywhere for a better future. Please ensure all international qualifications sold in colombo are marketable internationally.
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K.Pillai / August 26, 2017
Lots of contrabands get through customs – drugs included. Some detected (hundreds of kg at a time) but quite a lot go undetected. These have to find their way out and SriLankan Airlines have a earned a bad reputation because the management does not curb this activity.
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thondamannay / August 27, 2017
stewardess who was removed from flying duties and assigned ground duties was nabbed by Police when she was purchasing drugs in Pamankade. R U SURE THE PURCHASE WAS NOT MADE IN ALI MANKADA ???????????????????
Could verify this if you go to the Temple trees these days.
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Vishvajith / August 28, 2017
Allow me to take an alternate view. We are a Predominantly Buddhist Nation, guided by compassion, mercy etc.
So, let’s practice what we preach and show compassion to those effected by substance abuse. If you read the piece, you will note the airline is helping those effected by this. Well done to the airline.
Thanks for reading.
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