Pilots Union hits back at Srilankan Chairman

21 December 2017 08:44 am - 21 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Pilots Guild of SriLankan Airlines in continuation of the publicized correspondence between the Chairman of the national carrier and the employees of the airlines asserted that their first proposal in the “restructuring process” is the stepping down of the Board.

The first suggestion for the restructuring process is that we at SriLankan airlines are of the firm belief that you and the management team have proved to be ineffective and unsuitable for the task at hand”, the Chairman of the Pilots guild said in a letter.

In the letter dated December 20th, Ruwan Vithanage the Chairman of the Guild further said that it was the Chairman of the Airline Ajith Dias who had repeatedly contradicted himself in all previous correspondence.

“Having written to all employees of the possibility of the closure of the company, you subsequently proceeded to contradict your own written statement by saying ‘we are not going to close this airline’, during an interview. Such statements and contradictions by you as the Chairman of the Board of Directors only serves to further justify the contents of the letter jointly sent by the Unions” the letter said.

Earlier, the Alliance of Unions insisted on the stepping down of the Sri Lankan Airline board citing incompetence and unwarranted benefits accrued by the board. The letter sent to the Chairman Ajith Dias was in response to the communiqué to the staff of the airline inferred the imminent closure of the Airline. Chairman Dias thereafter hit back at the unions saying that they were contradicting themselves.

Iterating its assertion of incompetence further, the Pilots said that Dias had caused damage to the Airline by his statements.

“Our stance of No-confidence in your board is also further substantiated by the significant defamation and commercial damages caused to our Airline, due to your statement. By your first communiqué, you have not only given notice to the employees of closure by also notice to our loyal passengers that Srilankan may no longer exist after March” It said adding that service providers, employee confidence have ebbed as a result of the statements.

The letter hitting back at the representation by Dias that there was assurance by the Unions to support the process of restructure initially, said that there was no restructuring process presented for such assurances presented at the meeting held on December 6.

“We wish to state that there was no restructuring plan presented or discussed with us ( during the 6th December meeting). Therefore, your claims of our confirmation and assurance to make it a success are unsubstantiated as thre was no requirement or opportunity for us to provide the same” the letter said. (Hafeel Farisz)

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Comments - 21

Dee Thursday, 21 December 2017 09:01 AM

Some wounds fester beyond any possibility of healing . Just sell it off.

rew Thursday, 21 December 2017 01:13 PM

Mr President, Don't waste any more time. Take charge and get rid of this Board and then get on with restructuring the company. RW will drag his feet to support his cronies.

Dhammika Thursday, 21 December 2017 09:08 AM

The core issue for SriLankan is the massive debt incurred by the previous regime under the chairmanship of Mr. Nishantha Wickremasinghe , which went on a spending spree causing the present situation . The govt has to take legal action on those who were responsible which it has failed upto date badly . Hence the govt . has to write off such debts and restructure the airline in a way more Sri Lankan who travel overseas prefer to fly on SriLankan with promoting the airline with slogans such as BE SRILANKAN , FLY SRILANKAN , and to fly to destination where more tourists travel to Sri Lanka .

Flanker Thursday, 21 December 2017 10:43 AM

FYI, the losses have been incurring from the time of JRJ, Premadasa, hence having the whole blame on the previous government is not at all justifiable.

Wedige Thursday, 21 December 2017 03:18 PM

Mr. Flanker, when it was with Emirretas, UL was making profits.

Fernando Thursday, 21 December 2017 08:24 PM

Emirates only ever recorded profits on two years. That was when they sold all the aircraft belonging to the airline and leased the planes instead. The second time was when they received the insurance payout after the airport was attacked by the LTTE and some aircraft were destroyed.

nandaguptha Thursday, 21 December 2017 09:38 PM

Poor management is the main reason for the bad situation the SriLankan is in today. We cant keep blaming the previous regime when the current regime is much worse. Nepotism is the main reason and the lack of vision and the commitment is another reason. We have enough passengers to support the airline

dulan Thursday, 21 December 2017 09:19 AM

How come the Pilot's union and others did not write in public and ask former Board led by Wickramasinghe the ex-planter brother in law of MR resign for such public misuse of the airline and its female staff etc

Tom Thursday, 21 December 2017 09:35 AM

Let the INTELLIGENT Pilots run the show then! This union never even agree to hold pay rises amidst the company's situation! talking crap now!

Dhammika Thursday, 21 December 2017 09:35 AM

SRILANKAN airlines is the PRIDE OF SRILANKA IN THE SKY . Closing down the airline is not the solution but making it a viable entity IS ! .

cannot Thursday, 21 December 2017 10:10 AM

with the same Management at Apex, you cannot turnaround.You need fresh ideas and solution.

Mr Facts Thursday, 21 December 2017 09:41 AM

Worse board, cronies and close club circle of we know who.

mohandev Thursday, 21 December 2017 09:51 AM

Another bungle by the cronies of Bond king's boys club given free hand to ruin SLA so that they can strike a master mega deal with some crookish budget carrier waiting to pounce on SLA air crafts

Ane Thursday, 21 December 2017 10:24 AM

How much the general public concern about matterssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!

Garland in monkey’s hand Thursday, 21 December 2017 10:27 AM

There is an Indian saying: “Just like a garland in monkey’s hand”. It is said when somebody messes up something even after having the best resources at their disposal.

Thilak Thursday, 21 December 2017 10:44 AM

Then Sri Lankan was destroyed by the Rajapakse clan using I as their own property,now Its been destroyed by the Sira regime. I don't know why mehema wenna ai!

Kingsley Wijesinhe Thursday, 21 December 2017 05:15 PM

Lankave ehema thamai!

UKCitizen Thursday, 21 December 2017 12:43 PM

The situation is so bad there is no way out - closing down the Airline is the only option.The real issue (in addition to the massive debt) is the one not being talked about - aircraft leases.Aircraft have been leased at above market lease rates on 12 year leases without a termination clause. So they have to pay no matter what. There are still more aircraft on order including 4 A350 which may cost $1.1 Billion.All of the above represents several $ Billion in forward liabilities which is why nobody will buy the Airline.It also means it is impossible to operate these aircraft profitably.Don't believe me? Go and ask Ajith and Suren.Why should the people of Sri Lanka have to pay a single Rupee of these debts?

Unchikun Thursday, 21 December 2017 03:36 PM

Pilots drive plans, bus divers drive buses and the directors drive the organization. In Sri Lanka this messed up.

Mrmg Thursday, 21 December 2017 06:14 PM

Sri Lankan made profits when Emirates had a 49% stake. It was MR regime who bought that 49% stake back and created a budget carrier Mihin Lanka. Since its inception it made only losses in billions of rupees till it was closed permanently. If this budget airline was not there we would have made the Sri Lankan airline more profit by utilizing those funds. It was a one of the many white elephants by the MR regime.

dhammika Thursday, 21 December 2017 06:40 PM

Flanker - When Mr.Harry J was chairman UL paid bonuses to staff and dividents to share holders.

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Pilots Union hits back at Srilankan Chairman

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