The decision by the management of the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, to relocate its Colombo based offices at Katunayake has been opposed to, by its employees for practical reasons. They have also brought the matter to the attention of President Maithripala Sirisena, the Sunday Observer learns.
The entity, which has been consecutively incurring losses due to mismanagement and large-scale corruption, stemming from the previous government, has been hit hard.
Its offices in World Trade Centre (WTC), will be taken to Katunayake as a cost cutting measure.
The SriLankan Airlines management has decided to move its Marketing, Promotions, Digital Communication, Editorial and Publication, Media Development, Advertising and International PR departments to Katunayake soon.
In a newsletter issued by the communications department of the Airline, relocation of the offices is scheduled to take place between June 28 and the middle of August. According to the newsletter, the decision will help save Rs. 75 million per annum, the space rental paid to the WTC.
However, the employees of the Airline have complained against the decision to the President by a letter on Friday, wherein employees have said that the move could affect the Airline badly, as some of these offices must remain in Colombo to ensure their operational success. Most of these departments are tied up with other Colombo based suppliers as they need to meet them frequently, mostly for branding purposes of the Airline, the letter said.
“All other airlines in the world have located their Marketing and Promotional divisions near capital cities. Even other airlines whose services are available in Sri Lanka have their offices in Colombo.
In such context, the decision to relocate those divisions of SriLankan Airlines is imprudent,” the letter stated. Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunge when contacted said he was not aware of the relocation.