BIZ

No pilots for 80 SriLankan flights! – Dayasiri

Published

2 years ago

June 23, 2023

editor

Kurunegala District MP – Dayasiri Jayasekara said in Parliament today (23) that there are pilots for 80 flights of the national carrier – SriLankan airlines.

He also added that 13 flights of SriLankan Airlines have been canceled between June 18 – 22.

The passengers of the canceled flights have been accommodated in nearby hotels. No one knows how much it cost…Millions of rupees may have to be spent on this, he charged.

MP Jayasekara said the subject Minister was trying to suppress the real issue in SriLankan Airlines and was trying to create a situation to sell off the airline.

“The pilots are demanding a payment due for them during the Covid period. Nearly 50 percent of the pilots worked during the Covid period even though flights were grounded,” he added.

The MP also charged that the public is also inconvenienced as vehicles of passengers are not allowed to enter the airport premises.

“They have to lug their luggage along the road and to the passenger lounge,” he said.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader – Sajith Premadasa also spoke on the dearth of pilots.

“In the past 06 months, 70 pilots of SriLankan airlines have left. Now, there are less than 260. 18 more will go to Emirates this year. The country’s requirement is 330 pilots whereas there are only 260. Then, the remaining pilots who are there will be compelled to violate international regulations while working… They are compelled to cut down on their resting hours which could pose a risk to the passengers. I urge the government to resolve the dearth of pilots,” he said.

BIZ

1st stock of imported coconut milk to undergo clearance, lab testing today

Published

10 hours ago

May 31, 2025

editor

The first consignment of imported coconut milk under the Government’s raw material importation programme is scheduled to undergo clearance and laboratory testing today (31), as part of a coordinated initiative by the Plantation Industries Ministry.

This initiative, approved by the Cabinet, aims to supply essential raw materials to industries linked to the coconut sector, aiming to reduce domestic coconut prices and support local manufacturers. The consignment currently under clearance includes products equivalent to 200 million coconuts. They are in the forms of frozen coconut milk, coconut milk powder and chunked coconut with testa (non-copra), imported as part of the programme initiated in March 2025. The stock will be used primarily in the coconut milk powder industry, which has been facing raw material shortages. The Plantation Industries Ministry expects this move to reduce the pressure on local coconut supplies and contribute to a drop in retail coconut prices.

(dailynews.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

BIZ

BoC employees to strike over unpaid incentives

Published

2 days ago

May 29, 2025

editor

Employees of all Bank of Ceylon (BoC) branches have decided to walk out of service at 12.30 pm today (May 29).

The decision has been taken over the current management not taking the initiative to provide them with the 06-month incentive package approved by the Board of Directors, according to the Bank Employees’ Union.

Central Committee member of the Bank Employees’ Union – Najith Wijeratne, stated that they will initiate a token strike if this issue is not resolved by June 06.

BoC employees have also held lunchtime protests yesterday (May 28) in front of 22 branches in major cities islandwide.

BIZ

Imported salt released to market

Published

2 days ago

May 29, 2025

editor

The National Salt Ltd. says that 2,800 MT of salt imported from India have been released to the market.

It says the food-grade salt stock, which arrived on May 23, is being distributed to the market through local salt sales agents for consumer sale.

The Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development states that Lanka Salt Ltd. is importing 10,000 MT of salt, while over 100 importers, including those from Pettah, are bringing in an additional 100,000 MT.