Minister hiding real issue in SriLankan

13 flights cancelled within 5 days: Dayasiri 

• Passengers who have booked their flights accommodated in nearby hotels
• Jayasekara said the subject Minister was trying to create a situation to sell off the airline  

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera   

Claiming that Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was trying to suppress the real issue in SriLankan Airlines, Parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekara said yesterday 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.   Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said some 70 pilots have left the SriLankan recently and that there are less than 260 pilots at the moment whereas the requirement of the country is 360. He said some 18 pilots are planning to join Emirates this year.