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Message: <blockquote data-quote="saraprobe" data-source="post: 1042696" data-attributes="member: 13914">Fiasco over failure to fly President from London to Colombo in fully booked national carrierAn angry President Mahinda Rajapaksa wants Emirates appointed SriLankan Airlines CEO Peter Hill removed over the fiasco of not being allowed to fly back to Colombo from London via the national carrier.Sources said that the reason for President’s wrath is that Hill had reportedly indicated that there were two SriLankan Airlines flights from London but at the last moment had said there weren’t any seats available for the Sri Lankan President to fly back home.The President, who was on an official visit to Japan, flew to UK on a semi-private tour where he wanted to witness the passing out of his son Yoshitha from the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. President was invited by the College to grace the occasion as the chief guest.Sources said that after the event, Rajapaksa was keen to fly back to Colombo on time for the crucial third reading of the Budget, which took place last Friday.When the Presidential delegation realised that there were no seats for the country’s Chief Executive, a message was sent to fly over the Budget carrier Mihin Air at a hefty cost sans passengers. Mihin Air, in the process, made its first flight to Europe.However, an airline industry sources said that the President’s request for 18 business class seats and 17 economy seats came late and at a time when flights were over booked. UK is Sri Lanka’s biggest tourist generating market. Sri Lankan Airlines is the most preferred carrier by expatriate Lankans.The Presidential delegation had to choose between three options which were: a flight from Gatwick to Colombo via Male, occupying a lesser number of seats than the originally indicated amount or agreeing to a written directive to clear the required number of seats since it mounts to off loading pre-booked passengers.However, there is some confusion whether the Presidential aides had properly communicated these options to President Rajapaksa or whether someone had wanted to tarnish the national carrier’s image. Independent analysts were divided over which course would have been in the best interest of the national carrier. They said that ahead of the management review this fiasco could have been avoided.The 10 year management deal signed in 1988 between the government and Emirates regarding SriLankan Airlines is up for review subject to tough negotiations. Emirates also owns 43% stake in SriLankan Airlines. The next meeting which will probably be decisive is slated for January 8. <a href="http://www.thebottomline.lk/2007/12/19/B37.htm" target="_blank">The bottom Line</a></blockquote>

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