Migration of local air traffic controllers - a major issue : SLATCA

An international recruiting agency is currently carrying out interviews to place 20 air traffic controllers in the Middle East  

By Yohan Perera   

Migrating of local air traffic controllers to other countries is becoming a major issue, Sri Lanka Air Traffic Controllers Association (SLATCA) said yesterday.   

Secretary SLATCA Rajitha Seneviratne told Daily mirror that local air traffic controllers have begun to leave the country lately. “ An international recruiting agency is currently carrying out interviews to place 20 air traffic controllers in the Middle East at the moment. There would be an issue if a large bunch of air traffic controllers leave at once, “ he said.   

“ We together with the government has implemented a plan to stop the migration. There will not be much of an issue if this plan becomes a success, “ he added.   

He said the situation in UK has not affected flight movement from Sri Lanka to UK and vice versa so far.” There have been no cancellation of flights to and from the region yet, “ he said.  
Sri Lanka needs 115 air trafic controllers but only 73 avialble at the moment.