NewsSeveral security officers attached to SriLankan Airlines were given duty leave to participate in election campaign work during the last presidential election in January, 2015, it was revealed at the sittings of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PoI) on irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka today. Duty leave was granted in violation of the collective agreement between unions and the management of SriLankan Airlines which only allowed employees to be released for trade union activities, it was further revealed. Accordingly, the airline's Human Resources Department had authorised duty leave for seven security officers attached to the airline's Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya (SLNSS), to participate in an "organising campaign" in Pelmadulla in December, 2014. The SLNSS is a trade union affiliated to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). Titus Kannangara, Senior Manager, Security Operations at SriLankan Airlines testified that the officers were released after the request came through the HR Division.

Source: Sunday Times August 01, 2018 11:15 UTC