Colombo (LNW): Concerned citizens begin to highlight certain inconveniences which they claim to have occurred at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport, accusing some of the staff members of being inefficient, rude and mannerless.
These individuals urge the authorities to make an immediate intervention for the implementation of a smooth process which can make the national Airport a proud body to carry the Sri Lankan flag, in what they propose as the deployment of quality youngsters who could replace these ‘disgruntled inefficient’ staff members.
Below is a collective statement sent to LNW by these concerned citizens:
“We highlight these issue for the Authorities to intervene and implement a smooth process where we could be proud of our Airport and our Country. Please do not deploy inefficient, rude and mannerless staff with Connections to these points. Sri Lanka has plenty of quality youngsters who could replace these disgruntled inefficient staff. Over to you Minister and Airport Authorities.
It is a real inconvenience to any travellers who fly out from the Katunayake. To start with just to enter the airport is a severe struggle Security have opened only two tiny doors and checking the Passports & air ticket at these entrances inconveniencing the travellers. After struggling to enter they have to put their baggage through a scanner, this is the first scanner inside probably introduced during 30 years War. After entering again, before checking in travellers have to go through another baggage scan. Not to mention another scanning process before boarding the Plane .Authorities must do a system study and shall learn from other airports how they accept travellers in to an airport. This could avoid huge queues and do away with at least one scanning. If so any late traveller could catch the flight without missing any.
Our Sri Lankan Checking in Counters are manned by inefficient, Rude & Arrogant staff who cannot converse properly in English. Again where are the Trainers who supposed to train them. Recently we have observed there were huge queues at Sri Lankan counters and manning staff takes 10 to 15 minutes to check in one passenger . Funniest part is , this Is same for the already checked in travellers when they come to drop their baggage and to print the boarding pass.
Then Come the next dilemma. Certain Countries like Japan need to conform 3 Vaccines before coming to Japan. This aspect is being monitored by the above mentioned inefficient staff. Very recently a family travelling to Japan was interrogated by a lady ground staff at the baggage drop counter. Unfortunately a lady who travelled had her 3 Vaccines by the Army at Viharamaha Devi park and since there was no Seal in her card this staff member didn’t allow her check in. To add to this the E Vaccine Card was showing as only 2 Vaccines were administered. This is a blunder by the MOH Colombo. After many arguments Finally she was allowed to check in. However again at the boarding gate she was stopped and this particular lady came and shouted and wanted her to be offloaded mentioning she had made a mistake by allowing her to check in and already she has refused many passengers who didn’t have proof of 3 vaccines. At this point the lady travelling insisted that this staff member shall escalate this issue to her higher up and as a result another gentleman came and after listening to the story of mistake by the army for not sealing the cards and MOH not mentioning 3 Vaccines despite the application, allowed this group to travel and insisted a indemnity/ Guarantee. After providing that this group was allowed to board the plane . It was later revealed that this group was travelling for a series of scheduled meeting with Japanese buyers to promote Exports from Sri Lanka. It was learned that this group were back in Sri Lanka after a Successful tour meeting Japanese buyers.
Last but not least must mention the Immigration counters where again manned by thoroughly inefficient staff who are glued to their Mobile phones whilst on duty and their rude attitudes. This is same for when returning to the Country. This is the first impression giving about our Country to a foreigner. We feel these counters shall be manned by pleasant efficient young crowd like any other country. This is the way our Countrymen treat them. It was a real harassment from the time entering the Airport up to the boarding the flight. And to many Visitors visiting our Mother Land.
We highlight these issue for the Authorities to intervene and implement a smooth process where we could be proud of our Airport and our Country. Please do not deploy inefficient, rude and mannerless staff with Connections to these points. Sri Lanka has plenty of quality youngsters who could replace these disgruntled inefficient staff. Over to you Minister and Airport Authorities.”
