Sri Lankan CEO Hill in strife
COLOMBO – Sri Lanka is said to be cancelling the work permit of SriLankan Airlines’ British boss, Peter Hill, after the national carrier refused seats to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his entourage, the government’s investment board said yesterday.
Rajapaksa went on a private visit to the United Kingdom this month to watch his son’s graduation from a naval college but couldn’t get a place on the flight home because of heavy holiday traffic.
According to a Reuters report, the government says the airline “misled” it and had promised seats to Rajapaksa and his 35-member entourage – which airline sources deny.
“We have recommended the cancellation of a work permit issued to (SriLankan Airlines CEO) Peter Hill,” said Dhammika Perera, chairman of the government’s Board of Investment.
“They said they have enough seats … and finally when the day comes, they said there were no seats for the delegation,” he added.
He said the government, which holds a majority 51 percent stake in the airline with the balance held by Dubai-based Emirates and members of staff, had been promised there would be room.
Hill said he had not been informed about the decision.
Rajapaksa ultimately had to charter a flight with government-owned budget airline Mihin Air, which the president launched earlier this year and is named after him, to bring him and his delegation home.
Perera said the decision to seek the ouster of the SriLankan chief was taken in the public interest since the carrier had ignored the request of the government, a major shareholder.
Sources at SriLankan Airlines said government aides had requested seats for the delegation, and had been told that flights were full given heavy holiday season demand.
They said the airline had offered an alternate routing through the Middle East, which was rejected.
Ian Jarrett
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