Pilots’ Guild Slams Chairman of Srilankan Airlines.

The first suggestion made by the Pilots Guild of SriLankan Airlines for the restructuring process is that “ we at SriLankan airlines are of the firm belief that you and the management team have proved to be ineffective and unsuitable for the task at hand”, its’ chairman said in a letter. Subsequently, in a letter dated December 20 th addressed to the Chairman of the Airline, Ajith Dias , the Chairman of the Pilots Guild Ruwan Vithanage stated , that the employees of the airlines asserted that their first proposal in the “restructuring process” is the stepping down of the Board citing incompetence and unwarranted benefits accrued by the board. Instead of doing it, he proves himself as a man of contradictions. Having written to all employees of the possibility of the closure of the company, Chairman subsequently proceeded to contradict his own written statement by saying they are not going to close this airline. He made this statement during an interview.

Such statements and contradictions by him as the Chairman of the Board of Directors only serves to further justify the contents of the letter jointly sent by the Unions the letter stated. This letter was sent in response to the communiqué to the staff of the airline inferred the imminent closure of the Airline. Chairman Dias thereafter hit back at the unions saying that they were contradicting themselves.Reiterating its assertion of incompetence further, the Pilots said that Dias had caused damage to the Airline by his statements.

“Our stance of No-confidence in your board is also further substantiated by the significant defamation and commercial damages caused to our Airline, due to your statement. By your first communiqué, you have not only given notice to the employees of closure by also notice to our loyal passengers that Srilankan may no longer exist after March” It said adding that service providers, employee confidence have ebbed as a result of the statements. The letter hitting back at the representation by Dias that there was assurance by the Unions to support the process of restructure initially, said that there was no restructuring process presented for such assurances presented at the meeting held on December 6.

“We wish to state that there was no restructuring plan presented or discussed with us ( during the 6th December meeting). Therefore, your claims of our confirmation and assurance to make it a success are unsubstantiated as there was no requirement or opportunity for us to provide the same” the letter concluded.