- Aircraft engineers and air traffic controllers to be recruited
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation said that it has given approval for the SriLankan Airlines (UL) to make necessary recruitments to fill the existing vacancies in the national carrier.
When queried by The Daily Morning on Monday (13), the Secretary to the Ministry K.D.S. Ruwanchandra said that the Ministry has already granted approval for the Airline’s administration to make the recruitments as it is necessary to fill the current vacancies existing in many divisions within the Airline such as of aircraft engineers, air traffic controllers, etc. He further added that the Airline has the authority to recruit people in accordance with the necessity, and that therefore, they have the power to address the issues related to the shortage of human resources.
He also noted that the restructuring process is being carried out without any obstruction and that the decision on the tenders will be taken by the general Treasury once the evaluation is completed.
Recently, the Association of SriLankan Airlines Licensed Aircraft Engineers (ALAE) has called on the stakeholders involved in the management of the national carrier to collaborate on a workable retention plan. Issuing a statement, the ALAE pointed out that it is essential to address the current exodus of skilled professionals to ensure providing top notch aircraft maintenance and safety for SriLankan Airlines passengers. Warning that it anticipates a further turnover of engineers with the current global demand, the ALAE said that this has created a massive shortage of licensed aircraft engineers needed to run the increasing operations of the SriLankan Airlines. The ALAE further said that a shortage of staff would result in the aircraft being sent for external maintenance checks which will in turn result in millions of United States Dollars moving out of the country.
Earlier, the Ministry said that the Treasury has agreed to introduce a new salary structure for air traffic controllers in order to prevent the massive exodus of air traffic controllers affiliated with the SriLankan Airlines.