In a dramatic twist the yahapalanaya government appointed CEO Capt. Suren Ratwatte of SriLankan Airlines had told Members of the Pilots Guild that there was no proof of corruption and malpractices as highlighted by the Weliamuna report. This was revealed by Capt. Renuke Senanayake the President of the Airline Pilots Guild in writing to the airline’s Chairman Ajith Dias yesterday.
Capt. Suren Ratwatte
The first government-commissioned inquiry into the previous Rajapaksa regime’s acts of corruption, fraud and malpractices was carried out by the Lawyer J.C. Weliamuna along with his team comprising of senior lawyers U.H. Palihakkara, B.A.W. Abeywardane, M.K.Bandara. This six week long exercise cost the tax payer Rs 3.5 million.
The letter sent by the Pilot’s Guild expressing their lack of confidence in CEO. Capt. Ratwatte was based on the threatening and demeaning manner he also addressed the pilot community at a meeting held on the 21st April 2016.
The letter was copied to the Secretary Public Enterprise Development, Board of Directors SriLankan Airlines and all Members of the Airline Pilots Guild.
We publish below the letter sent to Chairman Ajith Dias by the Pilots Guild of Sri Lanka:
Mr. Ajith Dias,
Chairman,
Sri Lankan Airlines.
Dear Sir,
Subsequent to the conduct and statements of the CEO at the meeting held with the pilots, on 21st April 2016 at the BMICH, which is also on record, we wish to state the following which is of serious concern and seek clarification of the below comments made by him:
1. The CEO stated that there was no proof of corruption/malpractices as highlighted by the Weliamuna report, mandated by the government.
2. The CEO stated that the Honourable Prime Minister has intimated that he would close down the Airline in the event of any industrial action by any union of SriLankan Airlines.
3. The CEO stated that he was in active discussion for the induction of a new type of aircraft (Bomabardier C Series) into the SriLankan fleet.
Apart from the above, the CEO during this meeting made statements that were threatening and demeaning to the pilot community present.
Based on the above statements, the antagonistic and threatening language used by the CEO, and his demonstrated lack of competency in his capacity, the ALPGSL membership has unanimously decided to place on record our loss of confidence in the current CEO.
This derogatory and unprofessional conduct of the CEO has occurred while the pilots have been continuously willing to extend goodwill in support of the airline.
Thank you
Capt. Renuke Senanayake
President – ALPGSL
Cc: Secretary –Public Enterprise Development
Board of Directors – Sri Lankan Airlines
All Members – ALPGSL
Airline Pilots’ Guild of Sri Lanka
216/45, Diyawanna Place,
Welikada, Rajagiriya.
Sri Lanka
chuti putha / April 27, 2016
ohoma yan ohoma yan, we need this type of jokes for us to entertain, ALPGSL and CEO are great entertainers.
/
Jagath Fernando / April 27, 2016
Whether Suren is CEO or any other pundit is CEO this airline has no future.
For any CEO to perform many policy decisions are required.
Ranil has to make a few important decisions immediately.
1What do you do with the debt and losses in the accounts?
2How do you repay the loans of USD 3.25 billion?
3How much equity are you willing to sell and at what price ?
4Do you break up Sri Lankan into 4-5 companies including ground handling , maintenance etc?
5What do you do with excess staff ?
6What do you do with new air bus order including balance 4 A 350s not yet cancelled?
7How do you give comfort to a new partner that they will not get kicked out again?
8How do you pull out subsidies given to the airline?
9Do you close MIHIN or amalgamate?
10What do you do with buddies on the board?
All these decisions have to be made before getting a JV partner and holding a CEO responsible.
/
words / April 28, 2016
Ranil is a HOPELESS decision maker- other than when picking Royalists for plum positions in governnance
/
colin / April 30, 2016
Ranil knows what Royalists are made of so thats why he picks them. They are not communal minded and all communities move in harmony at Royal,Ranil knows that every community should put his shoulder to the wheel to make Sri Lanka the “Wonder of Asia”.Ranil loves the nation like no other and he is not bent on making money but wants to serve Sri Lanka to the best of his ability.
He is doing a fantastic job and even appointing Suren Ratwatte as CEO of Sri Lankan Airlines was a correct decision. It was reported that Sri Lankan is considering buying Bombardier planes from Canada which is a step in the right direction. Today Delta Airlines has placed an order for 79 Bombardier Jets and hopes to order another 50 more. Recently there was some criticism that Sri Lankan airlines was contemplating buying Bombardier Jets but looking at Delta ordering such a large amount of planes proves the reliability of the Bombardier jet. So Sri Lankan on cancelling the order for the Air Bus ordered by the previous regime should seriously consider going in for the Bombardier Jets
/
ajantha / April 27, 2016
Pilots think that they own and run the airline. These people are most stingy people in the airline and fighting for their benefits and rights only. CROs stance is appreciated and do not leave any room for these people to dance their own way.
/
Spring Koha / April 27, 2016
……2. The CEO stated that the Honourable Prime Minister has intimated that he would close down the Airline in the event of any industrial action by any union of SriLankan Airlines………..
There goes any chance of any advance bookings. Only fools book in advance with SriLankan these days given the uncertainty.
/
Nissa / April 29, 2016
You are right. “Pilots think that they own and run the airline”.CEO is a pilot too. No management experience. This is what happens when you hand over a railway company to a engine driver or a bus company to a bus driver. Just because you can driver bus does not mean that you can run a company efficiently.
/
oya / April 27, 2016
OMG ! Now you said it. MR and the family is free of all Sri Lankan airline corruption buduammo Kiyapu boru Ape Maharajata..Sin men It will be all over the MAY Day speeches..even if the sky come down,you won’t be saved bro !
/
Shariff / April 27, 2016
Recruiting Indian, pilots cabin crew is the way forward(ECTA).Surely don’t we want to be the Most preferred Airline in Asia? So be it make it an international airline…without just few frogs calling the shots here..Go ahead make my day…I can feel the reactions..
/
words / April 28, 2016
Yeah, and the we can have rat infected airctaft like in the indian flights..fun.. yaaarrr???
/
Adrian / April 27, 2016
If so sure why not send JCW to FCID?
/
NAK / April 28, 2016
In due time my dear be patient. They all will get their chance not with illegal FCID but in a proper court. Please have patience until then.
/
Lion / April 27, 2016
Ha Ha here comes the lacky of VIYAPATH BAMBARA aliys Nishantha wickramasingha.
/
Douglas / April 27, 2016
If what CEO said: “Waliamuna report, NO PROOF OF CORRUPTION” is correct, it goes to prove my earlier comment as regards the position of RW of being a “PAWN” in the hands of MR. In a way this is how “information” is first given out to the public and that is to just get a FEELING as to how it would be taken up. This is yet another TACTIC adopted by politicians. They put forward a PAWN and make him to ECHO the decision already taken and WATCH how it is received by the public. If a huge protest takes place, the politician either “withdraws” and blame the PAWN for making such false utterances or if no objection forthcoming the decision already made would be “implemented”. The PAWN used is heavily “oiled” to accept both ways, i.e. either the “Blame” or the “Credit”.
Next suggestion I wish to make is: If what this CEO says is very TRUE i.e. “NO PROOF OF CORRUPTION” that Rs. 3.5 million of PEOPLES’ money, spent on the INVESTIGATION must be recovered from the members of the Waliamuna Committee. Not only that all of them must be PROSECUTED in a Court of Law for MISLEADING the Government and the PEOPLE of this country. I also suggest all those whose names are mentioned in the report, including the then Chairman, Mr. Nishantha Wickramasinghe, the then CEO Mr. Kapila Chandrasena must immediately file a case for DEFAMATION and claim a huge compensation package from the Government for maliciously appointing such a Committee to tarnish their REPUTATION (if the had any)as exemplary “Administrators of a Public Venture” like SriLankan. The present CEO, Mr. Ratwatte could be the the main “WITNESS” on behalf of them in the court case.
/
Douglas / April 27, 2016
My earlier comment continued:… To All Those Who Have Been Implicated And Accused in that Waliamuna Report. If you proceed with the action I have suggested, you will be able to EARN a huge sum of money LEGITIMATELY and also LEGITIMIZE any “ILL GOTTEN” fortunes while being handling the affairs of SriLankan. Here is FOOD for thought.
/
vishvajith / April 27, 2016
This is true. Folks can make some serious cash for maligning them.
/
paul / April 27, 2016
“Based on the above statements i.e..he CEO’s statement that there was no proof of corruption/malpractices as highlighted by the Weliamuna report, mandated by the government, the ALPGSL membership has unanimously decided to place on record our loss of confidence in the current CEO.”
These ALPGSL members are none other than crooks and criminals. If a Senior official makes a statement outside the script they want him or her to regurgitate, then that person is labelled “incompetent” and threatened with dismissal.
Hooray to Yahapalanaya…
/
Goraka / April 27, 2016
Place Sri Lankan Airline under foreign management and stop the bleeding of Tax Payers money.
/
Goraka / April 27, 2016
Lets rename Sri Lanka Airline as CHEE LANKA AIRLINE.
/
Lanka Watch / April 28, 2016
This guy is really funny. A CEO’s job is to look after day to day
functioning of the airline and had no business to comment on a report
submitted to the board of directors on a past matter,before he joined the airline as CEO. Has he spoken on behalf of the Chairman of the airline is the question,which the chairman has to answer.
/
R.R. / April 28, 2016
What an unrelenting merciless attack. What is CT trying to achieve ? Drive this guy out of office or something more ?
Scare off any expatriates who are even thinking of coming back to the mother land and lending a helping hand ?
Make sure the brain drain continues ?
Surely this type of unrelenting attack only proves that there are ulterior motives involved ?
This is all that is in store for anyone with pure or other motives who tries to come back and do something for their Country. Welcome to reality of even trying to do a job Bro !
The “founder” of this web site is in self imposed exile I believe ? Maybe a case of Balla piduru kanneth naa, kana gonata denneth nah
/
Amden / April 29, 2016
Well said RR. Some guy or guys with vested interests are carrying out this campaign.
/
Wera / April 28, 2016
This man is an imbecile. We went from an utter corrupt crooked bunch to and incompetent imbecile. Please remove this idiot and let him ride his bicycle. Apeasement due to the reluctance of getting rid of the corrupt appointments made by Nishantha is one problem the UNP seems to have regarding the airline maybe because their people working at the airline will also be affected. Unwillingness to reduce the unfair and outrageous perks paid to the staff is the other problem. If these Rajapakshe stooges go and protest who cares? Does the PM have no backbone. It is his threat to shut it down if there are any protest that has led to the apeasement. This is totally unacceptable. How can you absorb all the debts and heap it on the public while not lifting a finger to take the scoundrels that caused this catastrophe to task?
/
Diluk Dias Desinghe / April 28, 2016
All that it means to me is to hereafter fly other profit making airlines rather than handing my life over to this bunch of jokers. The choice is plentiful, Emirates, Cathay, Thai, Qatar, SQ…..even MAS.
The only issue is if you have to undergo the punishment of having to travel to the Mudderland! UL has a virtual monopoly there. Hopefully not have to do that in the foreseeable future!
As for the burden on the taxpayer……why care about what we cannot change?
/
Lakki / April 28, 2016
Ah then kekulawala is a good boy? Oh pls get a life. All facts in the report are true. [Edited out]
/
NIHAL Gunasinghe / July 23, 2016
After appointing another army man by yahapalanaya, the army man who were subjected to a disciplinary action or expell from the airline became very qualified to hold the post ????? Waliamuna and his team should be punished..
/