It was not Dinesh who caused delay for Ajahn Brahm Thera at BIA but Nimal Siripala de Silva

1 June 2023 09:34 pm - 33 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Despite initial reports that Ven. Ajahn Brahm was held back at the BIA due to the presence of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardane at the airport, sources clarified that it was not due to the Prime Minister that caused the delay but it was instead because of Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva.

Sources said the Prime Minister was at the VVIP lounge and was to fly to Thailand while Minster Nimal Siripala de Silva and Ven. Thera was at the VIP lounge and was ready to fly on a Singapore Airlines flight to different destinations.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Secretariat has sought a report from the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. (AASL) for keeping Singapore bound Ven. Ajahn Brahmawanso (Ajahn Brahm) at the Bandaranaike International Airport for more than 12 hours reportedly due to the negligence of the airport officials, official sources said.

“We will handle the incident officially as a minister was also involved and will make a statement to the media in a few days,” an AASL official said.

It was reported that the Thera had arrived at the BIA at around 10 pm on Tuesday (30) to take a Singapore Airlines flight to Singapore and then to Perth, Australia and was seated at the VIP lounge to board the flight.
Subsequently, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva left the VIP lounge with the airport official who kept assisting Venerable Thera.

After boarding the minister, the official returned to the VIP lounge as he forgot to take the Thera with him. When he came to take the Thera it was several minutes late. By that time it was too late for the Thera to board the flight.

It was reported that the Thera had been in Sri Lanka for nine days and attended several programmes.
The Thera had been permitted to use the VIP lounge on the direction of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Airport & Aviation Services Sri Lanka Ltd. Chairman has reportedly apologised to the Thera for being kept waiting so long.

Meanwhile, issuing a statement, SriLankan Airlines said ‘The Thera has booked on a different airline, when the unfortunate delay occurred at Bandaranaike International Airport in the early hours of 31 May 2023. SriLankan Airlines, however, promptly stepped up and went beyond to help Venerable Ajahn Brahm to find an alternative flight.”

Sivalingam Thursday, 01 June 2023 09:55 PM

This Sudda can go back to wherever he came from, rather than make such a fuss over a trivial thing.

kapila Thursday, 01 June 2023 10:15 PM

The best part is, that these ministers still think that the general public in this country believe what ever they utter!

joshua Thursday, 01 June 2023 10:25 PM

What a waste of time to hold up somebody just for the sake of a sleepy "minister". Politics stink in this country like pigs

Raj Thursday, 01 June 2023 10:56 PM

Now I'm scratching my head. Totally Confused!

Buddhist Thursday, 01 June 2023 11:01 PM

Kick this Minister out. Who the hell he thinks he is? Especially this "paga king".

Peace lover Thursday, 01 June 2023 11:06 PM

Oh who cares about these peoples travel itineries.. Bring the cost of living down. Resolve the ethnic problem in this country once and for all.

dinesh Thursday, 01 June 2023 11:45 PM

everything in Sri Lanka is run by idiots...shameful....

Sinhale’ Friday, 02 June 2023 01:23 AM

This is we how we treat our Buddhist monks and kill the minority and called it we saved “Buddhism”. Gatchami

DJ Friday, 02 June 2023 01:32 AM

Is anyone surprised at all about this? What joke, sadly we will never learn.

Herman Perera Friday, 02 June 2023 02:09 AM

THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE OVERSLEPT.

Ama Friday, 02 June 2023 02:43 AM

These politicians including "Cabi NUT" ministers think the COUNTRY BELONGS TO THEM. And do whatever they want to.

Pradeep Carvalho Friday, 02 June 2023 05:11 AM

We are in the list for the world worst airports for a reason. Trash is what BIA is!

Kps Friday, 02 June 2023 05:30 AM

Nimal would have let Thero goes before him with little santhosam !

Lion Friday, 02 June 2023 06:07 AM

Both are equally bad and should leave politic

Nimpere Friday, 02 June 2023 07:15 AM

In this Island of Paradise. ....politicians are above all passengers,,,,,

Upset Passenger Friday, 02 June 2023 09:12 AM

BIA and the mangers and ground staff of Sri Lankan airlines are just the worst! They treat passengers like cattle and have a don't care attitude. They don't take responsibility like any other professional airline or airport staff would do. They have made me and others i know wait for 14 hours plus on several occasions with not even handing out water or a giving any reason until pressed for an explanation - the staff are rude, inexperienced and have the worst attitude towards passengers. Now that VIPs have been affected (was only a matter of time with their arrogant antics) the PS has asked for an explanation and this will be some silly excuse that will be made up by some idiot who had no basic qualification to run this operation. "SriLankan Airlines, however, promptly stepped up and went beyond to help Venerable Ajahn Brahm to find an alternative flight.” - HAHA! BLOODY JOKERS! This is definitely not and the statement is so see-through in itself.

Citizen k Friday, 02 June 2023 10:39 AM

Typical Sri lankan habit "the blame game".Oh when will we ever learn to stand up and be counted.

R. Anthony Friday, 02 June 2023 11:35 AM

Go tell it to the Birds!!!!! Are Politicians above the law?shame. Don't even have general courtesy , out side a camera lens, only in front of camera all the drama.

Sam Friday, 02 June 2023 11:44 AM

The Thero was here to preach what he was practicing. He is relaxed and relieved. He doesn't care about anything. He doesn't have any serious business to attend or loose anything. Why all this big show about his slight delay. Surely he can't be upset about all these.

Minister for Aviation caused problems, Ranil the underlying cause Friday, 02 June 2023 01:04 PM

Ranil should never have allowed for the Thera to use the VIP lounge, as the problems happened from there. When the Minister for Aviation came, he may have been racist to expect he be given the top priority for an institution under his preview. Ranil has to take responsibility for the mess, as he should have informed even the Minister for Aviation for VIP treatment, but instead had the Thera get worse than Economy treatment.

Article missed pointing out Nimal Siripala de Silva is Minister of Aviation debacles Friday, 02 June 2023 01:07 PM

The Article seemed to have conveniently over looked identifying the Minister under which the BIA operates. It's the Minister of Aviation which happens to be out Nimal Siripala de Silva. How can Sri Lankan Airlines ever be fixed up or be made more inefficient when the Minister causes such debacles.

Dayan Friday, 02 June 2023 02:08 PM

This is an unforgivable lapse in the part of airport employees.

Next, Loku Banda is going to Timbuktoo Friday, 02 June 2023 03:00 PM

It does not matter whether it is Dinesh, Siripala, Gunadasa or even Lokku Banda. The fact of the matter is we can't run an airport without messing things up badly. I'm sure Ven. Ajahn Brahm, being an Aussie would have managed on his own. Instead, Ranil offered him the VIP lounge and from then on it spiralled into utter chaos. We need to hang our heads in shame!!

Rohana Friday, 02 June 2023 05:11 PM

Nobody will claim responsibility, It is Sri Lanka. Nobody has punished so far for these type of incidents in Sri Lanka.

vernon memdis Friday, 02 June 2023 06:22 PM

Nimal Siripala Silva always enawa yanawa on public funds

UMAS ALI Friday, 02 June 2023 07:18 PM

nobody shuld ask a bribe from JAPANESE BECAUSE JAPANESE IS OUR FRIENDS

dickie bird Friday, 02 June 2023 09:06 PM

Now, the Trade Unions are asleep. Has Siripalour provided sleeping pills to the TUs?

A.Rajakumar Friday, 02 June 2023 10:59 PM

Anyone who travels around in various airlines will find, this type of blunder is not unusual. However in this instance, the Thera had been booked with some other airline, which he missed because of an official (need to be investigated) at the airport, and the SRI Lankan had stepped in to help. Lets thank the Sri Lankan, rather than bash them for no fault of theirs.

Vernon Watson Saturday, 03 June 2023 06:14 AM

It was alleged that this Minister has bad reputation when he was working at Post and Telecom Ministry in 2000. Nimal had exercised Favouritism in appointing his friends as officers to Telecom Regulatory by Commission. Every Government this guy is a Minister and please check no of years he is working as a sleeping Minister

Asoka Saturday, 03 June 2023 06:29 AM

He doesn’t deserve this position categoried as a sleepy one.Get rid of him as soon as possible

Gilbert Gunasekera Saturday, 03 June 2023 01:36 PM

OMG! I also heard via gossip that when appointing Executive Directors in year 200 to TRC, this Minister has appointed his own best man? The best man is the groom's right-hand man who came from Australia to Telecom Regulatory Commission, whom the Minister has appointed his own best-man in the photo.

Dula Sene Saturday, 03 June 2023 09:07 PM

What a blunder .. Nimal should have been kept waiting for 12 hours at the lounge . 12 hours is such a long time to be kept waiting at the airport for an elderly person . It’s sad to see the hateful comments

Ganesh Subramaium Sunday, 04 June 2023 01:25 PM

What a Pity. This Minister has become old aged because he was Minister in any Government. If he cannot wait for 12 hours being a Minister he should resign and beg for re-appointment

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It was not Dinesh who caused delay for Ajahn Brahm Thera at BIA but Nimal Siripala de Silva

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