FAU takes a hit at Kimarli over PPE issue

Criticizing the move taken by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Head Kimarli Fernando to remove the PPE requirement for fully vaccinated flight crew, the Flight Attendant Union (FAU) today said the SLTDA was attempting to paint a false and misleading picture to the tourists.

The FAU said they will take all measures lawfully available to protect the crew, the general public and specifically the passengers and the children under the age of 12 who are not vaccinated and therefore in grave danger. 

FAU President Sidath Dedigama in a letter to Ms. Fernando said it was mainly inside an aircraft, that new viruses enter the country and that vaccinated or not, crew can get infected and carry the virus, infecting others.  

They said they were perturbed and disheartened at the extremely irresponsible request made by the SLTDA Head Kimarli Fernando to the Director General of Health Services in this regard. 

"We remind you that Sri Lanka is currently under lockdown due to the potent variant of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus, and should the lockdown be successful, all of us in the travel industry have to act with great responsibility to our nation whilst it recuperates until the deadly virus is overcome by all of us," the FAU said in the letter.

The FAU further said that the picture the SLTDA was attempting to paint to the tourists, was false and misleading especially at a time a highly infectious variant of the virus was prevalent in the country. 

"We also wish to state that the FAU wholeheartedly supports responsible tourism, wherein primarily the citizens of our nation are protected and the tourists who travel to Sri Lanka are truly protected and made to understand that they are travelling to a destination that has taken precautions to duly protect them from COVID-19, instead of letting our guard down and placing them in grave danger," the letter said. 

"First protect our citizens. To the tourist, please portray Sri Lanka as a safe destination, a country that has taken responsible and due precautions to ensure the safety and wellbeing of tourists who chose to travel to our resplendent isle. To the world, please paint a picture of our nation as a responsible tourist destination and not one of ignorance and or greed." 

The Union said that it was responsible tourism that Sri Lanka should promote and the industry should not be reckless in their misguided attempt to woo tourists.

“You must understand that for cabin crew to be clad in such PPE for long durations inside an aircraft is an arduous task, nonetheless a lifesaving necessity we are compelled to endure during a pandemic. It is pertinent and prudent to paint a truthful picture of our frontline staff enduring the many difficulties of being in protective PPE to ensure the safety of our travelers rather than resort to deceptiveness," the FAU President said.