SriLankan Airlines’ Breathalyzer Tests: Pilots Threaten Union Action In 48 Hours, If Victimised Pilot Is Not Re-Instated

September 6, 2016 

The Airline Pilots Guild of Sri Lanka has served noticed to the management of Sri Lankan Airlines that they would take appropriate action to protect their membership within 48 hours if their innocent member pilot Capt. Sujith Jayasekara who was falsely accused of refusing to comply with a breathalyzer test by the management prior to his flight departure on the 28th of August 2016 to Bangkok is not re-instated.

Chairman Ajit Dias

The ALPGSL sent in two letters one addressed to CEO Capt. Suren Ratwatte informing him to abandon the flawed breathalyzer test procedure with immediate effect that is currently being practiced until the Civil Aviation Authority, the company and the pilots agree on a procedure that is acceptable to all stake holders concerned. The letter also went to state that Capt, Jayasekara should be re-instated with immediate effect, as all evidence points out to the fact that he never refused to comply with the breathalyzer test.

In another letter addressed to the Director General H.M.C. Nimalasiri of the Civil Aviation Authority, the ALPGSL also wrote in requesting him to intervene and stop the flawed breathalyzer test process immediately.

Majority of the pilots now believe that this is a witch hunt instigated by the Chairman Ajith Dias and CEO Capt.Suren Ratwatte as Capt. Jayasekara is one of the most vociferous of pilots that SriLankan Airlines has ever had. On numerous occasions at management and pilot meetings Capt.Jayasekara has challenged the management’s decisions, incompetence and reasons as to why the lawyer J.C.Weliamuna led Board of Investigations into the national carrier and their subsequent findings have not been implemented to date.

A senior pilot speaking on condition of anonymity as he is not permitted to speak to the media said ” Now we feel the Director General H.M.C.Nimalasiri of CAA is back pedaling this case too as he has always done in the past. It is understood that there is enormous pressure exerted on him by Chairman Dias and CEO Capt. Ratwatte as they are frequently selling the name of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and threatening the Director General to do what they desire”.

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