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Flight
controllers poised to strike This industrial action, if taken, will halt all flights in and out of the country. SLATCA president Ranjith Perera said the association had decided to take industrial action following the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)'s decision to grant four former air traffic controllers allowances for their air traffic control licenses. "We have been asking for this allowance for many years now but have not yet received it," Mr. Perera said. He said the four former air traffic controllers now working with the CAA did not in fact require a licence, as they were only engaged in managerial tasks. "These members are not handling live aircraft and thus it is not essential that their licences are current or valid," he said. "However, there are sixty seven current members of SLATCA who have to keep their licences up to date in order to perform their duties. Thus, we have decided to request that the allowance be given to all our members as well," he said. "We have made this demand in writing to Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka," he said. He said both Chairman M.L.M. Hisbullah and Executive Director Ananda Dharmasiri had been sent copies of the letter. Mr. Perera also said an action committee had been formed and the association was prepared to strike at any moment. He however said no action would be taken this weekend as the association was willing to give the authorities adequate time to come up with an amicable solution. SLATCA last threatened a strike in 1999 over a similar allowance issue, but did not go through with it as its demands were met on time. |
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