SriLankan employees withdraw from Silk Route Lounge terminal operations

SriLankan Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya (SLNSS) has decided to walk away from operations at the CIP operations at Silk Route Lounge of the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake.

Their trade union action is effective from 12 noon today (July 12) until further notice.

The union said it decided to withdraw services after taking into account the attempts of high-ranking officials, who are responsible for the ongoing crisis, to leave the country.

The president of the union Janaka Vijayapathiratne said SriLankan employees will have to face public outrage if services are provided to such public figures.

Meanwhile, the Immigration & Emigration Department’s officers attached to the Silk Route Lounge, which provides dedicated services to the VIPs at the airport, have also withdrawn their services.

Early this morning, former Minister Basil Rajapaksa attempted to leave the country, however, he was forced to turn back after the Immigration & Emigration Officers’ Association members at the BIA declined to serve him at the VIP departure lounge.

The chairman of the association told Reuters that the immigration & emigration officers are under tremendous pressure to not allow top-level figures to leave the country, given the prevailing crisis situation.

“We are concerned for our security. So, until this issue is resolved, the immigration officials working at the VIP lounge decided to withdraw their services,” he said further.