Columns
More lies in the skies with SriLankan Airlines
View(s):Instructions were given to divert to Singapore a scheduled SriLankan Airlines direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Colombo whilst the Airbus A-330 aircraft was on the ground in Malaysia, the Sunday Times can reveal today. That was how Captain Lakshman Fernando, commanding the flight touched down at Changi International Airport in Singapore. The aircraft was on the ground for half an hour to enable only SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickremesinghe, his wife and a family friend to board the flight. The Sunday Times can confirm that no other passengers boarded this flight and it took off after re-fuelling.
These revelations came as Mr. Wickremesinghe sent “a clarification” to the main story on this page last week. It reported that diverting an aircraft on a scheduled flight from one country to yet another is an exclusive privilege enjoyed by Heads of State or Government or if there is a patient who requires immediate hospitalisation. Reacting to our disclosure, an airline industry official added, “that too in circumstances where there is a justifiable emergency.” However, in this instance the diversion was purely to pick up Mr. Wickremesinghe, his wife and a family friend who were on a non-official visit to Singapore.
Now to what the “clarification” says: “SriLankan Airlines hereby seeks a clarification for the story published in page two of The Sunday Times, January 26, 2014 titled “Waste of Paradise by SriLankan Chairman.” ”SriLankan Airlines operates two daily flights between Singapore and Colombo. On January 22nd, 2014, flight UL 306 scheduled to depart Colombo for Singapore was delayed due to unforeseen technical reasons. As a result, the flight which was originally scheduled to depart Colombo at 0100 hrs departed at 0447 hrs with a delay of three hours and forty seven minutes. Accordingly, the return flight which was originally scheduled to depart Singapore at 1000 hrs Singapore time was rescheduled to depart at 1200 hrs.
“In the past, SriLankan Airlines had operated circular flights with the routine — Colombo/ Kuala Lumpur / Singapore/ Colombo or vice versa which were later changed two separate flights — Colombo/Singapore/Colombo and Colombo/Kuala Lumpur/Colombo on regular basis. ”On the said date, as the Singapore flight was delayed, SriLankan Airlines decided to operate the Kuala Lumpur flight which was en route to Kuala Lumpur as Colombo/Kuala Lumpur/Singapore/Colombo to uplift the Colombo bound Singapore passengers with the available capacity.
“Accordingly the flight was diverted to Singapore to pick up the passengers of the delayed flight UL 307. SriLankan wishes (sic) reiterate that at no point did SriLankan Airlines Chairman Mr. Nishantha Wickremasinghe give any instructions to divert the above flight for his own interest.” The so-called clarification raises more questions than it answers. Firstly, it claims that flight UL 306 to Singapore on January 26 was “delayed by three hours and forty seven minutes.” That would naturally mean that passengers who were to board that flight would have been kicking their heels at the Changi International Airport.
The diverted flight from Kuala Lumpur, one would expect, would have resolved their woes. Alas, no fare paying passenger boarded the diverted flight. It was only Chairman Wickremesinghe, his wife and a family friend. That too, after re-fuelling for which Sri Lankan Airlines has to pay Singapore authorities together with ground handling charges.
Secondly, it says “In the past, SriLankan Airlines had operated circular flights with the routine — Colombo/ Kuala Lumpur/ Singapore/ Colombo or vice versa which were later changed to two separate flights – Colombo/Singapore/Colombo and Colombo/Kuala Lumpur/Colombo on regular basis.” This is true but has little relevance to what was reported last week. It nevertheless only confirms the main element in our report. Such “circular flights,” when they were operated, were clearly scheduled flights and if a change was made, that was indeed a diversion. This is particularly so when the passengers are not kept aware and Captain Lakshman Fernando is told on the ground in Kuala Lumpur that he has to divert to Singapore.
Thirdly, the claim that: “SriLankan wishes(sic) reiterate that at no point did SriLankan Airlines Chairman Mr. Nishantha Wickremasinghe give any instructions to divert the above flight for his own interest.” If indeed Mr. Wickremesinghe did not initiate the diversion, who did? A bigger responsibility rests on Mr. Wickremesinghe to find out. This is all the more important if he is so concerned that no instructions were issued by him. If it is someone else who has arrogated to himself or herself the right to offer Mr. Wickremesinghe the privilege afforded to Heads of State or Government, it promptly requires a top level inquiry. At least to prove Mr. Wickremesinghe’s claim. Will there be one?
The postscript to all this came just half an hour after Captain Fernando was airborne out of Singapore. Coming over his radio was the voice of the Captain of the delayed flight (UL 306), an Airbus A-320 bound from Colombo to Singapore. That naturally bares another fact — Mr. Wickremesinghe and party need not have waited long at the Changi International Airport to return to Colombo. They could easily have waited for the scheduled flight.
On the other hand, he is also entitled to free industry tickets which he could use on any other airline if he wanted to return in a hurry instead of burdening more costs on his own airline. But this is Sri Lanka and anything goes!!!
TNA’s absence at India Day sparks rumours
Every year, when India’s Republic Day (January 26) is marked at its High Commissioner’s official residence, India House, those conspicuous by their presence are members of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
However, last Sunday when High Commissioner Y.K. Sinha hosted the annual reception, there were no TNA members.
It did not take long for the rumour mill to take over. One of the most widely talked of reasons was that the TNA has become closer to the United States and has, therefore, ditched India.
However, TNA leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan retorted angrily when asked about the absence of his alliance members. They had all gathered in Trincomalee for a Central Committee meeting, he said.
“Our thoughtless Administrative Secretary had fixed this meeting overlooking the fact that it was India’s Republic Day. I was not in the country then,” Sampanthan told the Sunday Times. He added, “our relations with India are warm, cordial and very strong.” And how, one might add.
Who ordered this take-off?
A SriLankan Airlines flight from Colombo to Paris waited on the ground until a tour group of some 80 passengers going to the French capital arrived from the Maldivian capital of Male. That flight too was being delayed.
After a short wait, it suddenly took off without the inbound passengers from Male. The 80 tourists were transferred to other carriers.
The talking point on the corridors of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is whether an “influential” flight crew member with connections to the top telephoned a big wig and said the long wait is troubling her. Instructions came for the flight to take off for Paris immediately?
Can SriLankan send a clarification on this as well, please?
Together forever: Mahinda to Mahinda
Even if he is not at the centre of the Government’s efforts to counter issues coming up before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe won some compliments from President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Mr. Rajapaksa said that Mr. Samarasinghe who is also the special envoy for human rights could work with him “forever”.
The occasion was the cutting of a cake at last Thursday’s weekly Cabinet meeting. President Rajapaksa had arranged for the cake to celebrate the birthday of Mr. Samarasinghe who turned 58 this week. In what has come to be traditional when observing birthdays at ministerial meetings, Mr. Samarasinghe cut the cake and offered the first piece to President Rajapaksa.
Geetha’s grave blunder
Attending funerals and other social events in their electorates is a sine qua non for politicians. One time popular actress Geetha Kumarasinghe, who is contesting the upcoming Southern Provincial Council elections, had to attend a funeral in Waduramba in the Galle District. Arriving there, she found there was no one familiar to her except a provincial correspondent of a newspaper in Colombo.
She spoke with him for a while and approached the next of kin of the deceased. She asked whether she could make a speech. The family very politely turned down her request. Ms. Kumarasinghe who has melted many a heart in the silver screen did not give up.
She approached the announcer who was introducing one speaker after another. That worked and there she was speaking about how sad she was. Then came the crunch. She was unaware of the close relatives of the deceased and fumbled.