Columns

A high powered delegation from Qatar Airways is expected in Colombo next week for talks with SriLankan Airlines and explore possibilities of a joint partnership arrangement. The move follows talks President Maithripala Sirisena held with Qatari leader Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during a two-day state visit to Doha this week. The President had appealed to the Emir to give his request urgent consideration.

As a result, Qatar is rushing a top level delegation from its national airline. President Sirisena is learnt to have telephoned State Enterprise Development Minister Kabir Hashim in Colombo and asked him to be prepared to receive the delegation. He had also told Minister Hashim that he should ensure SriLankan Airlines is ready for talks on a partnership agreement.

Last year, Akbar Al Baker, head of Qatar Airways, was in Colombo for preliminary talks. However, the arrangement did not work out then. He is reported to have said on his way out that SriLankan Airlines needed “a good haircut”, a reference to slashing jobs in the loss making airline. Qatar and Sri Lanka have signed six agreements (MoUs) during Mr. Sirisena’s two-day visit.

Pilots say tipsy test topsy-turvy

An uncomfortable moment for SriLankan Airlines pilots is the pre-flight breathalyser test, enforced strictly after one of them reported to the Frankfurt airport for a Colombo bound flight last year under the influence of liquor.

These tests have now become a hotly debated topic between the Airline Pilot’s Guild of Sri Lanka (ALPGSL) and the airline’s medical division after an instance in June this year when eight people were tested positive. The eight — four crew members, two nurses and two safety officers — had been tested eight times in June this year. The machine claimed they had consumed alcohol.

“…the fact that it was established that the instrument was faulty makes us question if the equipment meets the industrial and international standards and if the equipment is calibrated according to industrial norms,” says Captain Ruwan Vithanage, President of the ALPGSL in an e-mail to the Medical Division of the national carrier.

The ALPGSL notes that a no “error” message was indicated by the machine despite tests being carried out eight times. “This also raises concerns about the authority liable for the equipment and the breathalyser testing procedure,” the Guild has said.

The ALPGSL has meanwhile won another demand it placed before the management — an overnight stay in New Delhi for late night flights on grounds of fatigue. From December, the Board of Directors has decided, that SriLankan Airlines pilots who operate their late night flight (UL 197/198) will receive a layover or overnight stay in New Delhi.

As revealed in these columns on October 8, pilots warned the country’s civil aviation chief that a late night flight to New Delhi with a return next morning could cause them fatigue and endanger flight safety.

Memory-loss Trump thinks Ivanka is Sri Lanka

Are there some remote anecdotal links between United States President Donald Trump and Sri Lanka? So it seems, according to newspaper columnists in the US. The beleaguered Mr Trump — whose critics have kept calling him “a bum” and a “diabolical liar” — is best known for changing his mind and reversing decisions on a split second — or “once people leave the room”.

Last week, New York Times columnist Gail Collins had a new angle. She says when Mr Trump veers wildly from one position to another, his officials think it is because of canny tactics. “Now optimists believe he’s just – really forgetful.”

In short, his continued reversal of policies, whether on migrants, terrorism or climate change, is really due to memory loss. And Collins says there are possibly days that Mr. Trump calls his oldest daughter “Sri Lanka”– not Ivanka (it rhymes well).

Meanwhile, during his presidential campaign, another New York Times columnist envisaged the landing of a space ship in Washington DC. And one of the aliens says: “Take me to your leader”. But the golf-addicted leader was out of town. He was not available, said the columnist, because “Trump was in Sri Lanka to open his new golf course.” Maybe, he will.

UNPers puzzled over why Thalatha was not taken to Qatar

In United National Party (UNP) circles, the talk is why Foreign Employment Minister Thalatha Athukorale did not find a place in President Maithripala Sirisena’s entourage during the two-day visit to Qatar.

There are about 130,000 Sri Lankan workers in that Arab Gulf state. Unlike the ‘tie-coat’ working class the President had met, the bulk of the workers are those who toil in the desert sun spread out in many parts of that country. They rely heavily on the Foreign Employment Ministry for their well-being.
For at least one member of the delegation, the trip came in handy. He wedged in his own programme whilst taking part in some of President Sirisena’s engagements. One night, the man slipped out to address a meeting of Muslim youth at the Islamic Centre in Doha.

Speaker says he’ll shoot himself if Buddhism is harmed

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is being inundated with telephone calls from Buddhist organisations and members of the clergy over the proposed constitutional changes.

By Friday afternoon, he had received 32 telephone calls. Several Buddhist monks told the Speaker that he should protect both the country and Buddhism.
He replied that he would never allow any harm to come to the country, members of the clergy of any religion. If that happens, he declared, he would take a pistol and shoot himself.

COL dispute in Cabinet again
For a second time, the weekly ministerial meeting last Tuesday discussed the rise in cost of living.The issue was raised by Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa. Unlike the earlier occasion, this time, the main Minister responsible, Rishad Bathiudeen was calm and listening. Joining the discussion with a remark was President Sirisena. He said Finance Ministry officials had told him that they were not being consulted when matters relating to the cost of living were discussed.

This prompted a query from Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera. He asked the President for the identities of those who had complained.
Mr. Sirisena did not disclose the names but said that the Finance Ministry also should get more involved in issues that could help bring down the cost of living.

Rift in NFF: Some seniors may join President

Whilst the National Freedom Front (NFF) leader is facing action over his remarks over “bombing Parliament”, internecine developments have created divisions within the party.

At least some of the five parliamentarians representing the party, insiders say, have expressed their willingness to support President Maithripala Sirisena.
They say that some leading members of the NFF hierarchy had a meeting recently with Mr Sirisena.
This is besides the one that Mr. Weerawansa had with the President on the proposed constitutional changes.

AFRIEL: Questions and right answers

Ravindra de Silva, who says he is a member of the Management Committee of a so-called Association for Friendship and Love (AFRIEL), has responded to last week’s report in these columns. He says: “With reference to a news of the Sunday Times titled “No talks, only report handed over to PM”, AFRIEL Youth Network denies assertions made in the story as incorrect and baseless.

“Last Friday, a Sunday Times journalist contacted AFRIEL and repeatedly asked questions about was the AFREIL team dissatisfied with the meeting with the Prime Minister on 19th October 2017, ignoring the given answer that the team was instead satisfied with the meeting results.

“This meeting was requested in August and scheduled a month ago, AFRIEL appreciates the opportunity to hand deliver the recommendation paper, which highlights all the key factors determining the public’s expectations in each reform area of the Constitution that we want to draw policy makers’ attention, to the Prime Minister. Two representatives from the delegation were able to express concerns with regard to the constitutional reform during the meeting. We also appreciate the Prime Minister’s assurance that the recommendations will be considered by the Steering Committee of the Constitutional Assembly……”
Note by Jamis Banda: The thrust of the report was that no discussion took place. The occasion, as reported, turned into an unscheduled news conference. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe flayed the media for their reportage on a decision by the Sangha Council urging the Government not to go ahead with the proposed constitutional changes.

As for repeatedly asking questions, that is a Reporter’s job to ensure he gets the right answers. If as they claim, they were able to “express their concerns,” that was not at the news conference, when it was over with the Premier’s references to the media reports on the Sangha Council’s decision.
So much for a body that claims it stands for “friendship and love.”

MR to attend Buddhist festival in India

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa leaves today for India to take part in the second International Buddhist Festival for ‘Social and Cultural Relationship’.
The event is being held in Aurangabad in the State of Maharashtra. It is organised by the Dhammayuna Educational and Charitable Trust.
Last year, former Uva Provincial Council Minister Sashendra Rajapaksa attended the event.