National carrier SriLankan might be violating the country’s aviation laws for the last several months by continuing to ignore the applications of several experienced Lankan pilots who have applied to join it, while continuing to retain as many as 35 expatriate pilots at great cost to the airline.

Most of these pilots who were earlier working for the Indian carrier Kingfisher were laid off due to the global recession, while giving preference to its Indian pilots.

According to Section 208 of the Air Navigation Act, “No operator shall employ in Ceylon in any capacity in any air craft operation… a person who is not a citizen of Ceylon, except with the prior approval of the Director (Civil Aviation) in writing.”

And its sub paragraph (2) says, “Before approving the appointment of any person not being a citizen of Ceylon to act in any capacity in an aircraft operation licensed under the provision of this part, the Director (Civil Aviation) shall satisfy himself that no person who is a citizen of Ceylon with suitable qualification is available for appointment.”

SriLankan Pilots’ Guild is backing the retaking of these pilots who have earlier flown for the national carrier, but its management for some mysterious reasons is not willing to lay off any of the expatriate pilots as done by other airlines in favour of their own nationals. At least one of the pilots among this lot is a combat veteran having flown combat missions for the Air Force for 10 years and all of them have in the past put in many years with the national carrier before joining Kingfisher.

Pilots said they have written to the Director General Civil Aviation in this regard, but they have not even had the courtesy of an acknowledgement. SriLankan, however, has written back stating that there are no vacancies as they are downsizing.

They charged that at a time the national carrier was incurring billions of rupees in losses it was strange to retain expatriate pilots who have to be paid extra housing and children’s educational allowances and also provide with 42 days of leave per year compared to local pilots who are only entitled to 28 days of leave. The foreign pilots also do not pay any taxes to the government on their salaries.

What is so strange about this attitude of the SriLankan management is that it has already taken back several pilots, including an Indian Captain who was taken back from Kingfisher even without any inquiry, pilots said.
When The Nation contacted CEO of SriLankan Manoj Gunawardena in this regard he said the company policy was not to discriminate against anybody and they had given appropriate reply to all those who sent in applications.

Asked whether they were not violating the Air Navigation Act by refusing to hire these pilots, he said there were no such problems. (RA)