23 June 2023 11:46 am Views - 3478
Claiming that Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was trying to suppress the real issue in SriLankan Airlines, Parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekara said 13 flights have been cancelled within five days this week.
The MP told Parliament that 13 flights have been cancelled from June 18 to 22 and there are no pilots for 80 flights.
He said the passengers who have booked their flights have been accommodated in nearby hotels.
“Millions of rupees may have to be spent on this,” he charged.
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 said.
The MP also said people have to face huge inconveniences as vehicles of passengers are not allowed to enter the airport premises.
“They have to tug their luggage along the road and to the passenger lounge,” he said.(Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)