SriLankan suspends pilot : Delay due to drunk pilot

The passengers affected by the prolonged delay on flight UL 554 from Frankfurt to Colombo on August 19 will be compensated as per EU regulations, SriLankan Airlines spokesman Deepal Perera said. The flight carrying 259 passengers was scheduled to depart Frankfurt, Germany at 3.20 p.m. on Friday for Sri Lanka. It was delayed 15 hours due to the non arrival of a crew member. As the Frankfurt airport closes at night, the flight commenced its journey bound to Colombo at 6.20 a.m. on Saturday.

As of the Air Passenger Rights of the EU, if a flight arrives more than three hours late at final destination stated on the ticket, the passengers are entitled to compensation.

According to the EU regulations, the passengers in a delayed flight between an EU airport and non EU airports with over 3,500 km distance can seek compensation of 600 Euros.

The distance between Frankfurt, Germany and Katunayake,

Sri Lanka is 8,087 km. Therefore, the flag carrier will have to pay 600 Euros (Approximately Rs. 96,960) to each passenger. However, asked from the spokesman whether SriLankan Airlines will pay this compensation for all passengers including the locals, he said he was not yet aware of this.

SriLankan Airlines later issuing a press release stated a service of a pilot had been suspended over this issue.

It stated the all the passengers affected by the delay were provided food and accommodation. “SriLankan Airlines confirmed that one of its Captains who was due to operate UL554 Frankfurt to Colombo on August 19 failed to pass a Breathalyzer, (alcohol test) carried out by the authorities at Frankfurt Airport in Germany. Upon receiving the results SriLankan Airlines took immediate steps to suspend the services of the said captain and took alternative measures to operate the flight to Colombo,” the airlines stated.

“SriLankan Airlines has a well-established strict substance abuse policy that is designed to put the safety of our customers and employees first.

"The Airline has no tolerance for abuse or violations of this policy and accordingly the Airline will thoroughly investigate this matter, whilst extending its fullest co-operation to the law enforcement authorities in Germany. The crew member concerned has been suspended and will be withheld from operating services pending the outcome of the investigation.

SriLankan Airlines would like to reassure its customers that the safety of passengers and crew are the paramount consideration of the Airline and will not be compromised under any circumstances,” the release added.

The airline also apologized to the customers for the prolonged delay on flight UL554.

When contacted, the Airline Pilot’s Guild of Sri Lanka, a spokesperson said she was aware of the matter but said she could not comment on it at this moment.

She said the Committee members of the Guild were on duty on board and therefore unable to reach until Tuesday.

Bandula Resigns As Homagama SLFP Organizer

UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardena announced his resignation as Homagama Sri Lanka Freedom Party Chief Organizer.

He made this announcement in a public meeting in Pitipana today.

This comes two days after a controversial speech by President Maithripala Sirisena threatening the 'Joint Opposition' which backs former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and a few days after some SLFP organizers were sacked by Sirisena.

Gunawardena publicly denounced Sirisena's speech yesterday.UPFA MP Dullas Alahapperuma also resigned as the SLFP District Leader in Matara on August 19.

Photos of Namal's Iresha emerge!

'Lanka E News' has published photos of Batapola Arachchilage Ornella Iresha Silva, a directress of MP Namal Rajapaksa’s NR Consultancy who faces an international red warrant.

In one photo, she is pictured with her brothers - Bruno and Enrico Silva.Another photo shows when she had taken oaths as a lawyer, on the same day which Namal Rajapaksa too, took oaths as a lawyer.

Colombo magistrate’s court issued a warrant to Interpol yesterday (19) to arrest Ms. Silva.

Wanted by the FCID over her having aided Namal in a Rs. 125 million fraud, she has fled the country and is in hiding in England.

UN denies report about Golden Temple

The U.N.’s cultural agency has denied reports it is considering taking an ancient Sri Lankan cave temple off a list of world heritage sites, as a local conservation official Saturday renewed fears about its status.

On a visit to the island last week, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova told reporters she had raised concerns over the maintenance of the Golden Temple of Dambulla with local authorities.

However, Bokova’s office later stressed she did not say the centuries-old monastery risked being removed from the list of World Heritage Sites, but rather that UNESCO is in dialogue with Sri Lankan authorities over the temple’s condition.

“The Office of the Director-General reiterates that the Organization is engaged in a process of dialogue with national authorities on this matter, and that no reference was ever made to its delisting as a World Heritage Site,” the statement released Thursday said.

Sri Lanka’s top official in charge of heritage conservation told AFP Saturday he believed the Dambulla temple was in fact in danger of being removed from the list owing to decades of neglect.

“The temple risks losing the World Heritage status for two reasons. One is the new constructions that have been added and the second is the damage to murals and the failure to conserve them,” Prishanta Gunawardhana, the head of the government’s Central Cultural Fund told AFP.

A resident monk had for more than two decades denied conservation officials full access to the temple but a recent change of chief priest had given authorities hope the decline could be stopped, Gunawardhana said.

“This is a national tragedy. We will take at least five months to assess the damage caused by years of neglect,” Gunawardhana said. -Agencies

Source: AFP

Sujani in hospital to avoid arrest

The Financial Crimes Division (FCID) yesterday, informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate that Sujani Bogollagama, a Director of N. R. Consultant and Govers Corporation had admitted herself to the paying ward of the National Hospital, to avoid arrest.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate ordered the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) to examine the suspect Sujani Bogollagama and hand over a full report concerning the state of her health, on August 22.

A warrant is out for Bogollagama's arrest under the Money Laundering Act for purchasing Rs. 100 million worth shares of a company called Hello Corp, using allegedly ill-gotten funds.

N.R. Consultant and Govers Corporation are allegedly owned by MP Namal Rajapaksa who was arrested on Monday. Nithya Senanayake Samaranayaka, another director of the company, was also arrested this week.

The Court also issued an international warrant on another director of the same two companies - Ornella Iresha Silva.

Around 10,000 Lankans die from diabetes annually

Around 10,000 Sri Lankans die from diabetes annually and another eight percent of the population receive treatment for diabetes, Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said.

He said earlier, diabetes was common only among adults, but nowadays, schoolchildren develop the disease. The issue poses a significant challenge for the entire health system of the country as health services have an extra burden due to the development.

He was addressing the Endocrine Congress 2016 in Colombo recently.

Minister Dr. Senaratne said 25 percent of Sri Lankans are over weight and another seven percent suffer from obesity.

The country needs to take action to prevent Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) caused by life style related negative changes.

The government will bring legislation to regulate fat and salt in food and beverages. About 842 Healthy Life Centres and 946 Well Women Clinics have been set up countrywide to offer the public free screening for NCDs and keep people healthy, the minister said.

PM promises massive economic revolution in South

The South will undergo a massive economic revolution under the unity government, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Speaking at the first anniversary celebration of the unity government in Matara, the Premier added that the government is ready to bring ships to the Hambantota harbour.

“We will bring one million high end tourists to the airport which is reigned by crows and peacocks, promoting the economy of the Southern region,” he said.

The Premier added that the financial city project has far reaching economic benefits to Sri Lanka.

“We entered into a financial city agreement which is expected to have far reaching economic benefits to Sri Lanka and the creation of higher paying service sector jobs,” he said.

Premier Wickremesinghe added that the former President had given an undertaking to UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon that his government will take legal action against those responsible for alleged human rights violations.

“It is not me who entered an agreement with Prabakaran to secure an election victory. But we are labeled as traitors,” he said.

Classy Kumar Sangakkara steers Surrey

An unbeaten 130 from Kumar Sangakkara saw Surrey squeeze into the semi-finals of the One-Day Cup with a last-ball victory against Northamptonshire on Thursday.

Sangakkara struck Mohammed Azharullah for four to seal a one-wicket win after Surrey had collapsed in pursuit of 277. The visitors needed 12 runs to win off the final over after slumping from 234-5 to 250-9 in the closing stages.

Earlier, Rory Kleinveldt's unbeaten 76 meant Northants posted 276 after a last-wicket partnership added 49 runs.

Surrey will face Yorkshire away in the semi-finals on 28 August after the White Rose beat Kent by 11 runs in their quarter-final at Canterbury.

Alex Wakely's side looked set to pull off a surprise victory as lower-order wickets fell around Sangakkara and Surrey needed 27 off the last 14 balls.

Sangakkara brought that equation down to 12 off the last over and scooped the third delivery – an Azharullah full toss – to fine leg for six.

Last man Jade Dernbach scrambled through for a bye to leave two to win off the final ball, which former Sri Lanka wicket-keeper Sangakkara struck to the boundary.

Chief scores:
Northamptonshire: 276 in 49 overs (R. Levi 20, J. Cobb 66, A. Wakely 45, A. Rossington 25, R. Kleinveldt 76, J. Dernbach 4/39, T. Curran 2/69, S. Meaker 2/40)
Surrey: 279/9 in 50 overs (J. Roy 42, K. Sangakkara 130 n.o, T. Curran 26, G. White 2/46, J. Cobb 2/28). (BBC)