NewsThe licence of the SriLankan Airlines pilot who was found to be under the influence has been suspended with immediate effect by the Director General of Civil Aviation. Captain U B U Ranaweera has also been asked to show cause within seven days as to why his Airline Transport Pilot Licence should not be revoked. Director General of Civil Aviation H M C Nimalsiri says he was informed that Capt Ranaweera had been subjected to an alcohol breathalyzer test after reporting for duty as Pilot-in-Command of SriLankan Airlines flightUL 554. It was found that "the test reported alcohol contents of your body above the specified limit", Mr Nimalsiri says, in a letter to the pilot. Capt Ranaweera was prevented from flying the aircraft after his First Officers telephone their seniors in Colombo to indicate that he seemed too intoxicated to work.

Source: Sunday Times August 22, 2016 16:37 UTC