38 Air Traffic Controllers left since 2020 due to latest currency crisis

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

Since 2020, a significant number of Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) have left the country due to the latest currency crisis, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL) Chairman Eng. Athula Galketiya said.  

He told the Daily Mirror that a total of 38 ATCs have left the country so far.  

Therefore, the AASL has decided to recruit 71 new ATCs. We have completed training for 21 ATCs and are currently training another 25. An additional 25 ATCs are under evaluation.  
The AASL has taken measures to recruit three times the number of ATCs who resigned, Galketiya said.  

The government has also increased ATC salaries to retain staff and has begun hiring more ATCs.  

“A lot of air traffic controllers left us during the COVID period and the economic crisis, but the government has been generous in increasing their salaries somewhat, and the departures have decreased,” Chairman Athula Galketiya said.  

Sri Lanka’s rupee collapsed from 200 to 360 to the US dollar during a currency crisis that ended in 2022.