• Engineers claim technical issues resolved, CAA requested by P’ment SOC to probe possible sabotage  

The largest trade union (TU) in the SriLankan Airlines, the Sri Lanka Nidhahas Sewaka Sangamaya (SLNSS) blamed the Aircraft Engineers’ TUs for taking union action without any prior notice, thus causing inconvenience to the passengers.

In the wake of the SriLankan Airlines TUs being blamed by its management for the recent delays in SriLankan flights, the SLNSS claimed that while the TUs affiliated with the SLNSS have never launched a strike without prior notice, a TU of aircraft engineers recently launched a sudden work-to-rule campaign which led to constant delays in flights.

Speaking to The Daily Morning on Wednesday (4), the SLNSS President Janaka Wijayapathirathna said that if any TU takes a union action, they should inform the management in advance and should state their demands very clearly. He also said that otherwise, the passengers will have to face many difficulties while the reputation of the airline would be tarnished.

He also said that while some TUs of pilots had also launched a strike, it was reportedly called off since they have been provided with the necessary solutions for their demands. 

However, sources within the Association of Licensed Aircraft Engineers (ALAE) told The Daily Morning yesterday (5) that the main cause for the recent delays in flights were certain technical issues that existed in some aircrafts, adding that they have already handed over a report in this regard to the subject Minister and the management of the airline company. Sources further said that no objection has been raised so far regarding this by either of the latter two parties. According to sources, four aircraft with technical issues were repaired and handed over to the company by the evening of Wednesday, and that therefore, the issue is completely sorted out.

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Energy and Transport has recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) probe into whether an organised scheme is in place to cause failure in reviving the gradually rising tourist economy by causing delayed flights. Furthermore, it was discussed that the constant delay in flights is concerning especially where there is a peak of tourist entry into the country.

Recently, the Ports, Shipping, and Aviation Minister, attorney Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the losses incurred due to the delays of eight SriLankan Airlines flights in recent days amounted to Rs.1.95 billion (United States Dollars six million). Minister de Silva held a special discussion with the management and TUs of the SriLankan Airlines and the CAA at the Aviation Ministry to inquire about the inconvenience caused to passengers due to the delay of about eight flights of the SriLankan Airlines in the last few days. Pointing out the losses incurred due to the delays of the SriLankan Airlines flights in recent days, the Minister stated that in such a situation, no allowance or salary increase can be made to the employees at this juncture

In the last few days, passengers were severely inconvenienced due to the simultaneous delay of eight flights of the SriLankan Airlines.

Several attempts made to contact the Secretary to the Ministry K.D.S. Ruwanchandra for further information proved futile.