SriLankan Airlines staff up in arms against loss of BIA ground handling

BY Kumarasiri Prasad

SriLankan Airlines employees yesterday signed a petition against the Government’s plan to handover all ground handling operations of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to the Sri Lanka Airport and Aviation Services.

The petition was prepared by the national carrier’s Independent Workers Union to urge the Government to withdraw the decision. Union President Janaka Wijaya Pathiratne said SriLankan workers would not bear with such unfair suggestions which could drive the airline towards more losses. 

The petition will be handed over to the President and Prime Minister within the next few days.  

The Government sub-committee on economic affairs has recommended giving all ground operations which were considered the highest profitable unit of the airport, to the Sri Lanka Airport and Aviation Services Limited to reduce operational costs. 

The Government argued according to the Civil Aviation Act No.14 of 2010, ground level operations should be carried out by a Government shareholder. (CG)