Srilankan pilots protest breathalyser tests’ procedure

Colombo, Sep 9 (PTI) Srilankan Airlines’ pilots todaylaunched a campaign against the way they are being subjectedto breathalyser tests, saying they will not strike but stayaway from overtime work to register their protests. Kicking off the ‘work to rule’ campaign, the pilots of thecountry’s flag carrier Srilankan Airlines said they would stayaway from overtime work and would not be available on offdays. This is not a strike action but a ‘work to rule’ untilpilots’ demands are met, Captain Renuka Senanayake, spokesmanfor the pilots’ guild said. "We will be doing work strictly according to our roster.We are not against breathalyser tests but proper proceduremust be followed," Senanayake said. They are at loggerheads with the management over thebreathalyser tests procedure on the flight crew. Last month, a pilot was dismissed and his license wassuspended by the civil aviation authorities after he was foundto be under the influence of alcohol prior to a flight fromFrankfurt to Colombo. It was reported that another pilot who was asked toundergo a breathalyser test at the Colombo airport hadprotested over the procedure. The Srilankan Airlines management said refusal tocooperate with breathalyser tests was a violation of civilaviation regulations. SriLankan Airlines operates flights to many Indian citiesincluding Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai and Kochi. PTICORR CPS AKJCPS