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Airline Pilots’ Guild responds to accusations

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The Airline Pilots’ Guild of Sri Lanka issued a statement clarifying the accusations made on the delay of SriLankan Airlines flights in the recent past.

It said the failure of the Airline management to solve the serious issues that have arisen, had led to this situation.

Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva recently accused SriLankan Airlines pilots of refusing to operate a flight after a first officer on duty had fallen ill.

Responding to these allegations, the Pilots Guild said the Airline requires at least 330 Pilots to function at full capacity for the designated flights.

“However, over 70 Pilots have resigned from the Airline in the last year (2022- 2023) with many more resignations pending due to the issues faced by the Pilots. The Pilots of the Airline have been left in the lurch as a result of a spate of decisions by the Management of the Airline compelling us to be overworked,” it said.

“The severity of the issue was witnessed in the recent incident where there were no Pilots on standby to be assigned to a flight which eventually departed more than 12 hours later than the scheduled time of departure.”

“SriLankan Airlines pays one of the lowest wages well below industry standards to Pilots. Prior to June 2023, the Pilots were paid their salaries at an arbitrary USD capped at a rate which was nearly 40% below the rate of the Central Bank.”

“The cadre of Pilots which should ideally be at 330 now only has approximately 250 as a result of the shortsighted, arbitrary and callous decisions of the Management.”

“The recent issues regarding flights stem from these actions and/or inactions of the Management itself which the Management have continuously refused to pay heed to. We have as a body at all times raised these concerns repeatedly including by way of litigation due to the attitude of the Management of the Airline.”

“We urge that these matters be brought to the notice and the attention of the general public and all stakeholders of the Airline in order to facilitate the issues raised being addressed and resolved,” it said.

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“If this continues, country will end up like the KDU bus”: Ex-President Ranil warns

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Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe reiterated that people with political experience should be appointed as parliamentary representatives in the upcoming General Election.

Joining a press conference held in Colombo, Wickremesinghe further stated that if not, the country will go into another crisis situation.

Responding to a question, the former President also spoke on not seeking to enter the parliament in the coming election.

“Now it is enough that I was in the Parliament. I believe we need to form a new group from within our alliance representing the ‘Gas Cylinder’ because these are the only experienced people in the country.”

Today, the government lacks experienced individuals, he claimed. “These people have been working consistently for the past three or four years, helped me turn this around in two years.”

He further added, “Sri Lanka could be the fastest country to emerge from bankruptcy, but the path forward is uncertain. Without capable leadership, the situation could spiral—just like the KDU bus veered off the road. That’s why I urge everyone to send knowledgeable and experienced individuals to Parliament.”

(AdaDerana)
(This story, originally published by AdaDerana has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Distribution of polling cards for general election continues today

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The Department of Posts has designated today as a special day for distributing polling cards for the upcoming 2024 general election. 

Senior Deputy Postmaster General Rajitha Ranasinghe announced that 2,090 distribution offices will be open, with 8,000 staff assigned to the task.

Polling cards will be distributed from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and the public is urged to cooperate throughout the process.

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Landslide warning issued for eight districts

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The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued early landslide warnings for eight districts due to the ongoing heavy rainfall.

The warnings have been issued, effective from 05 pm today (02) to 05 pm tomorrow (03).

Accordingly, the warning notices under Level 02 have been issued to the Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara and Ratnapura districts.

Early landslide warnings have been issued to Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara district, Udapalatha and Yatinuwara in the Kandy district, Bulathkohupitiya, Mawanella, Dehiowita and Kegalle in the Kegalle district, Pasgoda in the Matara district and Ratnapura, Eheliyagoda, Elapatha, Kuruwita, Kahawatta, Godakawela and Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura district.

Meanwhile, Level 01 early landslide warnings have been issued to Welimada and Haldummulla in the Badulla district, Elpitiya in Galle district and Polgahawela in Kurunegala district.

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