Public interest in disclosure outweighs reasons given by SriLankan Airlines - ALPGSL
September 15, 2017 03:56 pm
The Airline Pilots’ Guild of Sri Lanka (ALPGSL) made an Appeal under the Right to Information Act to the Right to Information Commission today (15) requesting that the decision of Srilankan Airlines Limited be overturned, and for an order directing that Srilankan Airlines Limited fully disclose the information requested.
The initial request for the relevant information was made in June, which was subsequently rejected by the Deisgnated Officer of SriLankan Airlines Limited.
“Despite the clear public interest in disclosure, the Designated Officer of SriLankan Airlines Limited rejected the appeal and refused to disclose the information”, ALPGSL said, issuing a media release on the matter.
The entirety of the media release is as follows:
AIRLINE PILOTS’ GUILD OF SRI LANKA APPEALS TO THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION COMMISSION AGAINST DECISION OF SRILANKAN AIRLINES LIMITED
The Airline Pilots’ Guild of Sri Lanka (ALPGSL) handed over their Appeal to the Right to lnformation Commission at Colombo 07 on 15th September against the decision of the Designated Officer of SriLankan Airlines Limited.
The Airline Pilots’ Guild of Sri Lanka made an application to Srilankan Airlines Limited on 29th June 2017 under the Right to Information Act No. 12 of 2016 requesting that SriLankan Airlines Limited fully disclose and provide information inter-alia on several controversial transactions and dealings within the Airline. The information requested was as follows:
1. Salaries and other allowances and/or benefits of:
a) The Chief Executive Officer of Srilankan Airlines Limited
b) HHR of SriLankan Airlines Limited
c)Chief Commercial Officer of SriLankan Airlines Limited
2. All information related and/or connected to Pakistan International Airlines’ (PlA) correspondence with SriLa nka n Airlines Limited.
3. All information related and/or connected to Pakistan lnternational Airlines’ (PlA) initial entry into an Agreement with SriLankan Airlines all information relating to the Agreement with SriLankan Airlines Limited including the said Agreement.
4. All financial information (including but not limited to profits and/or losses and/or damages) connected to the Agreement and/or arrangement between Pakistan International Airlines’ (PlA) and SriLankan Airlines Limited.
5. All information related to and/or connected to the termination of the Agreement and/or arrangement between Pakistan International Airlines’ (PlA) and Srilankan Airlines Limited.
6. All information related to and/or connected to the cancellation of the order of Airbus 4350 Aircraft (including but not limited to all Agreements and/or correspondence related to ordering of Airbus A350 Aircraft and the cancellation thereof).
7. All information related to and/or connected to the cost of personal flying training for the 4320 jet conversion borne by SriLankan Airlines and/or any party for the Chief Executive Officer Mr. Suren Ratwatte.
However, the Information Officer refused to fully disclose the requested information, and stated inter-alio that only certain information contained in the Annual Report of Srilankan Airlines can be disclosed. The ALPGSL made an appeal to Designated Officer of Srilankan Airlines Limited to reconsider this decision in light of the fact that the information requested was directly connected to the alleged misuse of public funds and the multitude of irregular practiced within by the Management of the Airline. The ALPGSL stated that the public interest in disclosure far outweighed the reasons given by SriLankan Airlines Limited.
Despite the clear public interest in disclosure, the Designated Officer of SriLankan Airlines Limited rejected the appeal and refused to disclose the information.
In the circumstances, the ALPGSL has made an Appeal under the to the Right to Information Act to the Right to Information Commission requesting that the decision of the Designated Officer of Srilankan Airlines Limited be overturned, and for an order directing that Srilankan Airlines Limited fully disclose the information requested by the ALPGSL.
