No confidence in management - SriLankan Airlines Unions

14 December 2017 08:26 am - 19 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Alliance of Unions of SriLankan Airlines in a letter addressed to its Chairman Ajith Dias had claimed that they had no confidence in both him and the Board to be in charge of the National Carrier.

“For the first time in the long history of our National Carrier, you as a Chairman, having enjoyed all the benefits of your position for the last 3 years, have made an unprecedented statement that the lives and sustenance of nearly 7000 employees and their families is now in jeopardy, through no fault of their own" the letter stated.

The letter was a response to a recent communique sent to the employees of the national carrier by the SriLankan Chairman. The Communique warned that SriLankan Airlines was facing closure and that this was inevitable and “in the larger interest of the country’s economy” if “tangible and sustainable restructuring cannot be achieved.”

In response, the letter signed by the Pilots Guild, Aircraft Engineers' Association, Executives' Association, Flight attendants' Union, Aircraft Technicians' Association and the Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya of the National Carrier said that the communique substantiates previous assertions.

"Your communique on the present status of the Airline now serves to substantiate what has been echoed on many occasions at numerous forums; that your Board does not have the prerequisite competencies or the attributes to manage our airline, leave alone bring any stability to it," it said.

The Unions further said that the Board had been acting in violation of its duties owed to the Airline. "The task entrusted and accepted by the Board and yourself was not to compromise the livelihoods of nearly 7000 employees and their families by giving yourselves priority to stature, travel benefits, bonuses, or having dealings which could be viewed as a conflict of interest for a director of the company. You are well aware that there has been a formal request through the RTI by the ALPGSL for information regarding the benefits enjoyed by individuals of the top management as well as details pertaining to the exorbitant lease agreements and its eventual cancellation, which have been denied on the grounds of ‘Confidentiality’, the letter said.

The letter was copied to the President, Premier and Cabinet of Ministers.

.."The Board and specifically the current CEO had absolutely no business or managerial experience of any significance to be appointed for a task of this magnitude at a critical time such as this. It needs to be stressed that all these controversial decisions were implemented during your tenure as the Chairman and that you too must bear the responsibility for what is going to transpire in the coming months" the letter added. (Hafeel Farisz)

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Comments - 19

jaliya Thursday, 14 December 2017 08:47 AM

Being the Chairman of a national carrier is no joke, especially during the difficult times with many mandatory implementations are on the horizon. As we all know well... most of these individuals have been selected by another group who, again is clueless. These individuals are so ignorant and selfish that they rather take the entire operation down the drain rather step a side and resigning.

rew Thursday, 14 December 2017 03:42 PM

Mr Pres, don';t delay as you did with the Central Bank replacement. Act now.

Fish Thursday, 14 December 2017 08:58 AM

Probably to please India because what ever we say Sri Lankan is the best carrier in south asia.

Prashan Thursday, 14 December 2017 09:01 AM

What? Are they going to close down the national carrier? A country without an air line. What a "change" this is turning out to be.

Ruwan Thursday, 14 December 2017 09:01 AM

Then resigned and go home. Otherwise, you can strike against them. Why you didn't see any issues with related to the previous regime (Wickramasinghe) chairman? Please, note that thousands of educated people are there to replace you within few weeks. Please, clear the passenger area as promised by the government. They are trying to stop the activity.

Leo Thursday, 14 December 2017 09:07 AM

Its quite amusing that all those who voted this governmet to show off that they are "educated" and "posh" are up in arms against the same government. First uni students, then IT crowd, then doctors and now the employees of Sri Lankan airlines. This is why we should educate our people more on politics. They simply dont know the policies of politicians they are voting for. They just go after the rhetoric.

Mendis Thursday, 14 December 2017 11:09 AM

The problem is , this government was brought to power by the Indian Intelligence as such they are not free to do what they like.

Joe Thursday, 14 December 2017 04:35 PM

It's quite amusing to see morons like you dragging petty politics into this. We are suffering the ripple effects of all the previous governments curroption and geo politics. Thanks to the previous government only we inherited single minded pathetic government.

Indedendent Analyst Thursday, 14 December 2017 09:09 AM

A Right Royal Mess.....

M.M.M.Izzeth Thursday, 14 December 2017 09:11 AM

I agree Servise is unprofessional

Asela Thursday, 14 December 2017 09:25 AM

What the Unions had stated is the absolute truth. Chairman the Board and the CEO are all clueless of what is happening in the airline not only for the sake of future planning but in day to day administration. They are turning a blind eye to the total commitment of the senior management and they are doing what they want . You do not need a Board and a CEO for this purpose especially for an organization that has collapsed due to the no fault of its employees but due to political involvement . This airline is currently managed by Ranil cronies without any experience

sobers Thursday, 14 December 2017 09:28 AM

Air Ceylon too was corrupt and Former president JR liquidated it and with Singapore Airlines expertise Air lanka started very well, then again Politics crept in, poor recruitment ,corruption and fraud has not only ruined the Airline the image too. The day they changed the name to Srilankan Airlines it became more worse. When emirates were building up,our fraudulent pundits ruined it again. Running an Airline and making it profitable is not by overnight. It needs time. Now we are disgraced as no one wants to bid internationally. It has become another CGR or CTB.

Alston Thursday, 14 December 2017 10:32 AM

Shame for the blunders of the inefficient management; suffering passed to employees and the ailing nation.

Kingsley Wijesinhe Thursday, 14 December 2017 10:39 AM

With a garment manufacturer as Chairman and an ageing pilot with no managerial experience as CEO, what can you expect? This is all the PM's fault, for having appointed a bunch of his cronies to head the airline.

Sanath Thursday, 14 December 2017 10:45 AM

Politics had crept into everything, which is the root cause for all the mess ups in all the fields. Can we ever imagine that there will be a day that all these commercial ventures/administration etc will be left free, keeping out political interference??!!

Stardust Thursday, 14 December 2017 12:09 PM

I also dont trust the capabilities of this management. But on the other side 7000 employees is by far too much. via DM Android App

Geo Thursday, 14 December 2017 12:49 PM

The issue is Sri Lankans are dumb. They can't manage a airline. Just get a foreigner to do it

urubokka Thursday, 14 December 2017 12:53 PM

no wonder the airline is going down the drain and it must be closed down and restarted with fresh blood. none of the senior guys should be re hired and paid some compensation. From top to bottom there is abuse I have myself seen it

ceylon Friday, 15 December 2017 05:25 PM

why these uniins dont strike to privertise it.because these lazy theives want salary wirhout work and want to steal.under orivate owner dont pay for sleep and rob. via DM Android App

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No confidence in management - SriLankan Airlines Unions

Comments - 19

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