News
70 pilots leave SriLankan during last six months – Sajith
13 flights cancelled in five days – Dayasiri
By Saman Indrajith
About 70 pilots attached to SriLankan Airlines had resigned during the past six months, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said yesterday in Parliament.
“There are fewer than 260 pilots at SriLankan now. Another 18 are to join Emirates soon,” he said.SriLankan needs 330 pilots to operate its flights optimally, Premadasa said.Meanwhile, from 18 to 22 June, SriLankan Airlines have cancelled 13 flights, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MP Dayasiri Jayasekera said in Parliament on Friday.The passengers of these flights had to be accommodated in star class hotels, he said.
“We don’t know how much money was spent to pay for the accommodation. But it’s obvious that dozens of million rupees must have been spent”.
The flights of Sri Lankan Airlines are delayed because of a union action taken by pilots and engineers and not because of sudden illnesses of pilots as stated by the government, he said.They have resorted to union action because the government had not paid them an allowance that was due during the COVID period, the SLFP MP went on to say.
“The government wants to sell SriLankan Airlines. So they are deliberately running it to the ground. Buses that carry air passengers are not allowed to enter the airport premises. People are compelled to walk a long distance, dragging their luggage,” he said.
A special search operation conducted by the Navy in the Mankuliya Lagoon of Negombo today (21st September 2023) led to the apprehension of a dinghy loaded with over 400kg of Kerala cannabis with an estimated street value of over Rs. 132 million
The seized consignment of Kerala cannabis and the dinghy were handed over to the Negombo Excise Station for onward legal action
Latest News
IMF MD and President Wickremesinghe focus on Financial Reforms and Debt Restructuring initiatives
In a crucial meeting held during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, met with President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, to discuss vital economic matters.
During the meeting, Ms. Georgieva and President Wickremesinghe delved into the ongoing financial sector reforms and the substantial progress made in debt restructuring initiatives. The IMF Managing Director commended the Sri Lankan government for its effective measures in curbing inflation and nurturing a conducive environment for business growth, as well as the flourishing tourism industry. She expressed her satisfaction with the government’s commitment to enhancing the overall economic landscape.
(PMD)
President Ranil Wickremesinghe invited President Ebrahim Raisi of the Islamic Republic of Iran to visit Sri Lanka and ceremonially open the Uma Oya Hydropower Station when they met on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York on Wednesday (20).
President Raisi accepted the invitation and also extended an invitation to President Wickremesinghe to visit Iran. Both leaders agreed that these high level visits would give impetus to further consolidate bilateral ties.
The two leaders recognized that as countries belonging to the same region there is potential for regional cooperation in a range of areas of mutual interest including as members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). The prospects for cooperation in the agriculture sector, particularly introducing modern technology in which area Iran has considerable expertise, was also discussed.
(PMD)
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