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SriLankan flight creates a stir: WHO guidelines followed says CAA

15 Apr 2020

  • SriLankan Airlines transports foreign nationals out of UK
BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA Opposition politicians raised concerns over the chartering of a SriLankan Airlines flight by a Chinese airline to transport a group of Chinese nationals out of the UK and the use of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake for the transit of these passengers. However, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) yesterday (14) denied allegations levelled by Opposition political parties claiming they facilitated a Chinese airline to use a SriLankan Airlines chartered flight and also allowed the use of Colombo as a transit point claiming that the process was followed as per World Health Organisation (WHO) instructions. Concerns were raised by former Cabinet Minister Mangala Samaraweera and former Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MP Wasantha Samarasinghe on this matter on Monday (13). Expressing his concerns, Samaraweera tweeted on Monday evening questioning the authorities on whether all passengers were tested/quarantined before leaving London. His tweet read: “UL 504 specially chartered plane taking Chinese passengers from London to Shanghai lands at BIA and transits for two hours. UL 866 departed for Sh’hai at 14.55h. Were all the passengers tested/quarantined before leaving London?” Meanwhile, Samarasinghe raised concerns over the exposure of local staff at the BIA terminals to the passengers. He also claimed there was another flight scheduled on 17 April. Denying the allegations, CAA Chairman Major General G.A. Chandrasiri told The Morning that the authority had given approval for a two-hour transit, and within that period, the whole process was completed. He assured that the airport, airline, and health officials who were there had not had contact with any of the passengers. “None of our staff had any contact with those people. According to quarantine procedures, we were wearing masks and the entire safety kit. Health authorities were available there, the airport management was available there, and they made sure that all passengers got in from one aircraft (and in)to another and they had to walk only 70 metres and within two hours they were taken out,” Chandrasiri said. Further explaining the process, the CAA Chairman said: “The Chinese airline charted a flight from SriLankan Airlines to bring their passengers from London to Shanghai. They’ve selected Colombo as a transit point to bring down 217 passengers. When they requested the CAA, approval was given to land here only for two hours. After they landed on the tarmac, they were not allowed to go anywhere. The Chinese airline’s aircraft was parked about 100 m away fromthe SriLankan Airlines aircraft. We did the transfer of passengers from one aircraft to another aircraft only at thetarmac. That means we never had any contact with those people. Their luggage and everything was taken to the other flight within two hours. “We have done it the proper way and according to WHO instructions,” he stressed. Responding to the allegations, Chandrasiri stressed that nobody could claim the authorities had not gone through the procedure or had allowed the passengers into the terminal. “There was nothing like that. They also have human right to come and go to their country and the duty of the authority was to accommodate. Politicians only know half of the story,” he added. When asked about the details of the flight scheduled to land on 17 April, the CAA Chairman noted that they had not received any instructions regarding the 17 April flight. “If there’s another flight coming, the same procedure would be followed and they will only be allowed to land here for two hours,” he said, adding that as soon as the details come, the CAA would work out another plan. “The maximum time they could stay is two hours. They will not be allowed to come to the terminals or go anywhere else. However, If Sri Lankans are coming, there will be a separate plan for them,” he added.

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