Pilots Guild testifies against Suren Ratwatte

COLOMBO (News 1^st) - The Airlines Pilots Guild of Sri Lanka testified before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry and raised serious concern over CEO of Sri Lankan Airlines Captain Suren Ratwatte. Captain Ruwan Vithanage providing evidence on SriLankan Airlines, said most of the Chairpersons and members on the Board of Directors appointed between 2008 and 2015 were appointed based on family relationships and political affiliations. He went on to say that following the appointment of Captain Suren Ratwatte to the post of CEO there were conflicts between him and the Pilots Guild. He said the guild questioned whether the appointment of Ratwatte was done in the best interest of SriLankan Airlines considering the dire situation the airline was in financially. He testified that Suren Ratwatte was not conversant with the issues put to him and did not understand the serious nature of pilot fatigue. Captain Vithanage said Ratwatte's qualifications were questionable, given that SriLankan Airlines was running at a colossal loss. He went on to state that there were conflicts with the Head of Human Resources at airline over his decisions. Captain Vithanage said 7000 employees for an airline like SriLankan was too high and the decision makers must be accountable for this situation.