The Air Traffic Controllers’ Association of Sri Lanka (SLATCA) has raised concerns over a potential standstill of air traffic movements, owing to the increasing number of controllers resigning from their posts.

Issuing a statement in this regard, SLATCA noted that 19 air traffic controllers have resigned from their posts within a span of a year.

“If four or five more controllers leave, air traffic movements will come to a standstill even without a strike”, SLATCA President, Thisara Amarananda said in this regard, emphasisng that such a standstill would a pose threat to the Sri Lanka’s road to recovery.

“The President of Sri Lanka Mr. Wickremesinghe outlined the importance of exports, foreign investments, and tourist arrivals in a bid to strengthen our economy, all of which requires the service of these Air Traffic Controllers”, he said in this regard.

Amarananda further accused subject Minister Nimal Siripala de Siva of not making any efforts towards the retention of air traffic controllers, adding that although a retention plan was drawn up for a period of three years by the Airport and Aviation Services of Sri Lanka (AASL), in consultation with SLATCA, it is yet to be implemented.

The SLATCA President attributed this delay in implementation to the Ports Minister’s refusal to approve the retention plan.

He further noted that Minister Siripala de Silva had also proposed that the standard of require educational qualifications for the role of an air traffic controller be brought down.

In response to the ministers statement he said “Lowering the education qualifications of candidates to one of the most responsible jobs in Sri Lanka may serve the self-centered appetite if politicians, but in no way remedies the ailing ATC community”.

Thus, SLATCA warned that although several upward trends are currently seen within the island’s deteriorated economy, such as the increased number of tourists recently reported by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority), the inattentiveness displayed by the government remains a threat to this development.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that a comprehensive programme will be implemented to train pilots and air traffic controllers at a recent meeting at the Civil Aviation Authority.

He also said that the relevant training programmes should be expedited. “Seeking means to fulfill the required number of flying hours for pilots is our main challenge. Sri Lankan Airlines has 23 aircraft.

However, that is not enough to cover the requirement. There are new airlines in Sri Lanka at present. We must extend our maximum possible assistance to these new airlines.

“I do not stand for any monopoly of Sri Lankan Airlines. These services should be expanded. It is better to have at least 10 more new airlines to facilitate air travel between destinations such as the Maldives, Dubai or Chennai.

If we have airlines for short distance flying, we can also fulfill this training requirement for pilots and to enable them to cover the required number of flying hours, he added.

The Central Bank is to introduce Regulations on Financial Consumer Protection having recognized the need to institutionalize financial consumer protection in the delivery of services by regulated financial institutions.

The Central Bank’s Financial Consumer Relations Department (FCRD_ has devised a comprehensive set of new regulations aiming at introducing an integrated financial consumer protection framework for entities regulated by CBSL.

These regulations are expected to define specific regulatory powers for the supervisors to facilitate market conduct supervision while providing clarity to both the service providers and recipients on the areas to be considered in delivering/ obtaining financial services aiming at minimizing the need for financial consumers to make subsequent complaints.

In order to have wider stakeholder consultation, FCRD has invited the relevant industry associations and the general public to submit their observations/ comments/ suggestions on the draft Regulations.

The public can access the draft Regulations (English) available on the CBSL website (Web link for the draft Regulation. consultation_paper_20230120_regulations_on_financial_consumer_protection_e.pdf (cbsl.gov.lk))

With a view to safeguard financial consumers, FCRD shall carry out risk-based market conduct supervision, depending on the nature, scale and complexity of the matter under consideration and/ or the market.

A report on Market Conduct Supervision shall be furnished to the DFCRD after the examination(s) is/are completed.

In the opinion of the DFCRD, if the examination findings are adverse and contain any material violations of FCP regulations or any other directions, guidelines, or code of conduct, such report shall be submitted to the Monetary Board recommending one or more of the regulatory actions

According to these regulations all financial institutions should treat customers in an equitable and fair manner.

It should not not discriminate against financial consumers based on social status, physical ability,marital status, race, caste, gender, age or religion;

It should not discriminate against financial consumers such as elderly, physically disabled, low income, low financial literacy and shall have the right to receive special attention to facilitate fair access to financial products or services.

The FSP or its agent/ any other person involved in the business of such FSP shall not employ unfair business practices against its financial consumers at all times.

The FSP shall not engage in practices which may include but are not limited to threats, intimidation, humiliation, misrepresentation, deception, use of abusive/ offensive language, or unfair inducements.

At all times, in the conduct of its business, financial institutions should act in good faith and the best interest of its customers.

The need of the digitization of public and private institutions in promoting investments in Sri Lanka and establishing a single point for obtaining all necessary approvals for investment promptly has been emphasized.

This was taken into discussion at the Select Committee of Parliament to study the practical problems and difficulties that have arisen in relation to enhancing the rank in the Ease of Doing Business Index in Sri Lanka and make its proposals and recommendations.

The Select Committee of Parliament is to study the practical problems and difficulties that have arisen in relation to enhancing the rank in the Ease of Doing Business Index in Sri Lanka and make its proposals and recommendations which met in Parliament last week under the chairmanship of MP Madhura Withanage.

The government has already taken steps to set up a high regulatory powered investment promotion agency (authority) to take up the task of expediting the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) in to the country efficiently and expeditiously, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe disclosed

Special committee appointed by President Ranil Wickremasinghe has already made a recommendation to set up this new agency by bringing the Board of Investment (BOI), the Export Development Board (EDB) and the Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation (SLECIC) together onto one platform, he said.

National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA) and other entities that support exports and investments will also come under the purview of the new agency.

The budget 2023 has allocated Rs 100 million to implement the investment and export sector reforms expeditiously.

Officials representing a number of sectors such as the public and private sectors including the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, the Colombo Stock Exchange, The National Chamber of Exporters and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry were present at this special committee held.

Each party informed the committee about their concerns and proposals for the promotion of investment in Sri Lanka and many of the parties present were of the opinion that it is important to digitise public and private institutions and establish one place to get all necessary approvals for investment.

Chair MP Withanage said that proposals have been presented on this regard to the committee previously as well and accordingly he will take measures to have the President and the House informed on this endevour.

The parties present also pointed out the need to restructure the Government institutions to which Withanage mentioned that the views presented by the parties related to each sector as professionals are important. Therefore, he pointed out the need to raise awareness regarding this through the media.

Furthermore, the parties present emphasized that the position of Sri Lanka in the ranking of countries also affects the promotion of investment and the need to come forward in those rankings. The need to develop the size and quality of the country’s market was also discussed here.