ISSUES

Former Trotskyite now leads the TULF

By D. B. S. Jeyaraj

Veerasingham Anandasangaree is the new leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), the largest moderate political party of the Sri Lankan Tamils. The party’s highest decision making body — the Central Working Committee — met on June 23 in Colombo and elected the 69 year old lawyer turned politician unanimously as its president. Anandasangaree known generally as Sangaree had been earlier functioning as the senior vice president of the party since 1993.

He was also the acting president of the TULF from September 1998 to December 2001 in the absence of former party president Murugesu Sivasithamparam who was away in India due to illness and returned only last December. After Sivasithamparam’s demise, Anandasangaree became acting President again on June 5 and held the post until being formally elected last Sunday.

Born in Point Pedro in June 1933, Anandasangaree grew up in Atchuvely as his father was a school principal at Sri Somaskanda College in neighbouring Puthur. Sangaree himself studied at Sri Somaskanda, Christian College Atchuvely, Hartley College, Point Pedro and also Zahira College, Colombo. Before taking up law, Sangaree was a pedagogue teaching at Hindu College Jaffna, Poonakari MMV, Kotelawela GTM School, Ratmalana and Christ King College Ja-Ela. He passed out as a lawyer in 1967 and began practicing until 1983 when the TULF leaders refused to take oaths under the 6th amendment to the constitution. He has not worn the black coat ever since.

Baptism of five

Like many political leaders on both sides of the ethnic divide, Sangaree too began his politics as an ardent Trotskyite. He was an active member of the Lanka Sama Samaaja Party (LSSP) Youth League from 1955 to 1965. His first experience  in running for  electoral office was in 1959 when he contested the Colombo Municipal Council on the LSSP ticket. His opponent was none other than the uncrowned king of Colombo municipal politics V. A. Sugathadasa who was also mayor then. It was a baptimism of fire in Colombo for the 25 year old Jaffna youth.

The March 1960 elections saw the LSSP under Dr. N. M. Perera make a determined bid for political power through electoral politics. The party contested 101 seats in all parts of the island and NM himself was projected as the future prime minister of the country. NM asked Sangaree to contest the newly carved rural constituency of Kilinochchi as a LSSP candidate. Anandasangaree having no links to Kilinochchi was reluctant.

NM encouraged him to plunge in saying that even if the ‘unknown’ Sangaree lost then he would win the seat in 10 years time. NM’s  words in 1960 were prophetic and in 1970 Anandasangaree was elected for the first time to parliament from Kilinochchi. Only he was no longer a Trotskyite having embraced Tamil nationalism but, as a Tamil Congress candidate. The LSSP however fared poorly winning only 10 seats.

Sangaree contested the March 1960, July 1960 and March 1965 elections in Kilinochchi under the key symbol of the LSSP. He got 1114, 2011 and 1804 votes respectively. He lost both times in 1960 to S. Sivasundaram and in 1965 to K. P. Ratnam who were of the Federal Party (FP). In 1966, the LSSP now aligned with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) adopted the communal ‘Dudleyge bade masala vadai’ line and opposed the reasonable use of Tamil as an official language in 1966. Sangaree like many Tamil LSSP’ers quit the party.

He joined the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) led by G. G. Ponnambalam Snr. in May 1966. Earlier, he contested and won the Kilinochchi town ward in the Karaichi Village Council. He became its chairman from 1965 to 1968. In 1968, it was elevated to Town Council status. Sangaree contested, won and became the first Kilinochchi TC chairman. He functioned in that capacity till the end of 1969.

January 1970 saw Sangaree become Youth Front President of the Tamil Congress. In May 1970, he won Kilinochchi on the  cycle symbol of the ACTC and defeated Alalasundaram of the FP by 657 votes. The ACTC got 9049 to the FP’s 8392. The seventies saw the main Tamil parties sink their differences and forging unity.

The Tamil United Front (TUF) was formed in May 1972. This became the TULF in May 1976. This period saw Anandasangaree’s stock rising in Tamil politics. The Tamil Congress had three MPs in 1970. They were Arulampalam of Nallur, Thiyagarajah of Vaddukkoddai and Anandasangaree of Kilinochchi. Congress stalwarts like G. G. Ponnambalam, M. Sivasithamparam, T. Sivasithamparam, V. Kumaraswamy, N. Nadarajah, T. Sivagnanam, S. Sivanesan, etc. had lost. It was left to the newly elected trio to don the mantle of parliamentary leadership.

Refused to cross

Arulampalam and Thiyagarajah opted to join the United Front government. Sangaree despite his left leanings and respect for NM refused to cross-over and remained in the ranks of the Tamil nationalists. His stature increased greatly because of this. In 1977, the TULF swept the elections riding the crest of a Tamil Eelam wave. Sangaree contested Kilinochchi again and polled 15,607 votes obtaining a majority of 11,601.

The sprawling electorate of Kilinochchi was primarily agrarian and relatively undeveloped. It was part of the Jaffna administrative district. Thus, a Tamil farmer from the rural backwoods of Kilinochchi had to travel a very long distance to attend to matters at the Jaffna kachcheri. So, Sangaree began advocating the redemarcation of Kilinochchi as a separate administrative district. This incurred the wrath of fellow TULF MPs from Jaffna and Sangaree became quite unpopular. In 1983 in the aftermath of the July violence the UNP government utilised the absence of TULF MPs in parliament and created the Kilinochchi District.

The 1983 violence saw the TULF out in the political wilderness. Sangaree like many other TULF figures relocated to Madras but kept shuttling between India and Sri Lanka. In 1989, the TULF re-entered the political mainstream. Sangaree contested the Jaffna electoral district in 1989 and the Wanni District in 1994 on behalf of the TULF and lost both.

In 2000, Anandasangaree was the chief candidate on the TULF ticket again in Jaffna. The TULF got three seats and Sangaree got the highest amount of preferences. In 2001, the TULF contested as part of the TNA under the party symbol of rising sun. Again Sangaree topped the list gaining over 36,000 preferences.

Sangaree has served in several capacities for the TULF, being its propaganda secretary from 1976 to 1983 and a politburo member from 1983 to 1993. He has attended several international conferences as a parliamentarian in Britain, Zambia, Austria, Norway and Switzerland.

Anandasangaree was elected senior vice president of the TULF in 1993 and proved to be a tower of strength to the party when it was at the receiving end of systematic violence by the Tigers. He was instrumental in reviving flagging fortunes of the TULF in Jaffna by taking over the Jaffna Municipal Council election campaign in 1998.

Thereafter, when two TULF Jaffna mayors Sarojini Yogeswaran and Pon Sivapalan along with a mayoral aspirant Mathimugarajah were successively assassinated by the LTTE, Anandasangaree took up permanent residence in Jaffna and rallied the demoralised TULF. He also spearheaded its parliamentary election campaign in  Jaffna during 2000 and 2001.

Prominent role

Anandasangaree also received wide media coverage in Tamil Nadu when he accompanied and assisted his former leader and top notch international lawyer G. G. Ponnambalam (Senior) at the Sarkaria Commission sittings. The commission had been appointed to inquire into corruption allegations of the erstwhile DMK regime. Ponnambalam led the team of lawyers representing former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Muttuvel Karunanidhi of the Dravida Munnetra Kazghagham. Anandasangaree played a prominent role in this legal arrangement.

 Recently, hostile reaction to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha Jeyaram began emanating in Sri Lankan Tamil circles after she pushed through a resolution in the Tamil Nadu legislature seeking extradition of LTTE leader Pirapaharan. Several persons including TULF personalities began uttering bombastic and provocative threats against Jayalalitha in an ill advised move to curry favour with the LTTE.

Anandasangaree however issued a very responsible public statement condemning that trend and urging that no offensive comments be made against any Indian leader including the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. When pro-LTTE elements began distorting what Sangaree actually said in the statement, the TULF leader took a direct Tamil translation to Kilinochchi showed it to Thamilchelvam and cleared the air.

Anandasangaree takes over the TULF reins at a critical phase in the island’s politics. His party itself has accepted the overall dominance of the LTTE . Given Sangaree’s fiery independent streak it is very likely that the TULF while backing the LTTE politically would also try and retain some functional autonomy. That however depends on the extent to which his party colleagues will cooperate with him. If such enlightened unity and support is not rendered the ex-Trotskyite may very well be presiding over the Swansong of the TULF.

The road to Jaffna

The peace process has had a varied impact on civilian life right around the country. While internally displaced civilians in the Wanni  have begun to return to their former homes — now bombed out skeletons — Jaffna  has been elevated to the number one local tourist destination.

Today, The Sunday Leader profiles four characters, from  mine-clearers in the LTTE controlled areas digging out landmines using their bare hands,  to the Bishop of Jaffna, Rev. Thomas Samudranayagam, despairing over the possible breakdown of the negotiations and the possibility of all-out war, once again.

 By Amantha Perera in the North

Succession stakes: Squabbles in the TULF

 By D. B. S. Jeyaraj

“Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright

Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay...

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight

And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,”...

— Dylan Thomas

The political tempest that raged within the folds of the largest Sri Lankan Tamil democratic moderate political party is now abating. The demise of Murugesu Sivasithamparam on June 5, left a two fold vacuum in the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), the party led by him for nearly 24 years.

Firstly, a new president was needed; secondly, the parliamentary seat held by M. Siva as a nominee on the national list of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had to be filled.

 As is the case in any democratic party, sharp divisions surfaced within the party over both questions. Tamil media reports suggested that a serious crisis threatening to tear the party apart was brewing. Despite the inner party tensions, both issues were resolved without major impediments  when the TULF’s Central Working Committee and Nomination Board met on June 23 and 24 respectively in Colombo.

TULF parliamentarian from Jaffna District and its Senior Vice President Veerasingham Anandasangaree was elected unanimously as president by the party’s top decision making body the Mathiya Seyal Kulu or Central Working Committee on June 23. Thirty five of the 48 members attended. Anandasangaree was proposed by Batticaloa District Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham and seconded by former Batticaloa MP Pon. Selvarajah

Protest

Although elected unopposed at the decisive meeting, another senior TULF MP from Jaffna Somasuntharam Senadhirajah popularly known as ‘Maavai’ on account of his native village Maviddapuram had taken up cudgels against Anandasangaree protesting against the latter being elevated to presidential office. Senadhirajah however boycotted the decisive meeting and thereby lost his case by default leaving the field clear for Anandasangaree

Statements however were issued by Senadhirajah to the press and to members of the Central Committee outlining his objections to Anandasangaree. This led to Sangaree defending his position against the allegations. Much of it pertained to charges of high-handedness by the president elect during election time in 2000 and 2001. This conduct according to Senadhirajah negated Anandasangaree’s suitability for presidential office. Whatever the merits or otherwise of these allegations it was an open secret in TULF circles that very little love was lost between Sangaree and Senadhi for quite some time.

The feud apparently began when the TULF’s former national list MP Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam was assassinated by the Tigers in July 1999. Both Anandasangaree and Senadhirajah were in competition to fill that seat. Later Sangaree did not press his case and let Senadhirajah become MP. The seeds of enmity however were sown then. Subsequent developments enlarged the chasm further.

The electoral system of proportionate representation and preference votes for individual candidates causes acrimonious rivalry among contestants from the same party thus contributing to intra-party dissension. Both Anandasangaree and Senadhirajah  contested Jaffna District and competed for  preference votes in both 2000 and 2001. With the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) of Douglas Devananda proving to be a formidable rival the TULF was hard-pressed to perform creditably.

 Genesis of the split

Sangaree with a lengthy track record in electioneering was accused by Senadhi of adopting dubious, unorthodox methods to win. According to TULF insiders, the charges were incorrect and unfair. Senadhi apparently was chagrined over the fact that Sangaree had got more preference votes than him in both elections.

If this was the genesis of the split Senadhirajah did not confine his protests to those causes alone. He also raised objections to Anandasangaree over ‘constitutional’ issues. The TULF party constitution states that if the president ceases to hold office, the senior vice president will become acting president and act in that capacity until a new president is elected at the party convention. Thus, Senadhirajah contended that Anandasangaree could not be elected as president by the Central Committee. The party convention was in 1993 and the next one is scheduled for 2003. 

Despite the issue of constitutional propriety, the reality on ground was that the TULF faced with several problems had not been strictly adhering to constitutional requirements. The Central Committee members discussed Senadhirajah’s objections at length but decided to disregard them in view of practicality.

Asset or liability?

The committee noted the “difficult situation” faced by the party since the death of former Opposition Leader Appapillai Amirthalingam in 1989 and took into account precedents where constitutional provisions were not followed  strictly.

A secondary undercurrent of opposition to Anandasangaree was that some TULF figures felt that the frank and forthright Sangaree may be a liability vis a vis the LTTE. Anandasangaree was courageously defiant of the LTTE in the late nineties when the Tigers killed several TULF leaders and helped rally the party together. He also played a prominent role in enhancing the party’s electoral fortunes in Jaffna. While being supportive of the LTTE in recent times, Sangaree had not stooped to the level of a Tiger sycophant in contrast to some other TULF leaders. He had also acted responsibly and cautiously over the Jayalalitha Jeyaram controversy and issued a reasonable and moderate statement.

For these reasons, some TULF’ers felt that electing Sangaree as president would anger the LTTE. It is learnt that some of these sections wanted Batticaloa District’s Joseph Pararajasingham considered to be a favourite of the LTTE to be elected as president. Senadhirajah whose position was only that Sangaree should not become president was also not averse to this. There was also an Eastern Province lobby that wanted the post for Pararajasingham citing earlier Federal Party precedents where Rajavarothayam of Trincomalee and Rasamanickam of Paddiruppu had been presidents.

This situation however was overcome by Anandasangaree who met the LTTE’s Political Wing head S. P. Thamilchelvam in Kilinochchi. There Sangaree had bluntly queried whether the Tigers had any objection to his attaining the TULF presidency. Thamilchelvam assured Sangaree that the LTTE had no objections and stressed that this was an internal matter of the TULF and that the Tigers did not want to interfere in it. Thamilchelvam also said that he had conveyed the same sentiments to the TULF’s Sambandan and Pararajasingham when they met him.

Objection overruled

Thus, the Tiger bogey was discounted and the absent Senadhirajah’s objections overruled. The TULF old guard closed ranks and Joseph himself proposed Anandasangaree. With both the pro-Tiger as well as the Eastern Province lobbies accepting Anandasangaree he was  elected unanimously. Given Sangaree’s experience and the fact that he is the seniormost parliamentarian there really was no alternative. Furthermore, most TULF stalwarts knew that Sangaree, Joseph and the late Neelan had kept the party going in the nineties in the face of LTTE opposition. Although the political climate had changed past history could not be overlooked.

Senadhirajah however is yet to reconcile himself to Sangaree’s ascendancy and has announced that he would boycott all TULF party meetings. Senadhirajah and his supporters have also issued veiled threats about reviving the dormant Federal Party (FP) — an original constituent of the TULF. Senadhirajah and most of his supporters are from the FP while Anandasangaree  like Sivasithamparam was from the Tamil Congress.

It is unclear whether Senadhirajah will take the bold step of splitting the TULF when the overall Tamil consciousness is for greater Tamil unity. It also remains to be seen  whether Senadhi  threatening to break off from the TULF will go to courts over the violation of constitutional requirements in Sangaree’s appointment issue. If that happens the judicial verdict could be dicey.

Anandasangaree’s position as senior vice president was filled by Batticaloa’s Joseph Pararajasingham, continuously in parliament since 1990. Pararajasingham was earlier the joint treasurer of the party and in his place was elected the well known Tamil businessman and former Jaffna Municipal Councillor S. Thiyagarajah or STR. All elections were unanimous.

Another problem

Apart from the leadership tussle there was another problem concerning M. Siva’s parliamentary seat too. The Central Committee discussed the ramifications of the issue at length and although no formal decision was taken, it was a foregone conclusion  that Thurairatnasingham of Muttur was the choice. With Senadhirajah boycotting Sangaree, four of the five member TULF  nomination board met the following day (24th) to nominate the replacement for Sivasithamparam as national list MP.

The national list MP replacement issue had also proved to be a divisive one. Anandasangaree had wanted a senior TULF stalwart from Jaffna District, former Uduvil UC Chairman  S. Muttulingam to be appointed. Muttu-lingam’s name was already on the national list as he along with Sivasitham-param was nominated in 2000 on behalf of the TULF.

 TULF Secretary General and Trincomalee district MP  Rajava-rothayam Sambandan wanted K. Thurairat-nasingham from the Trincomalee District appointed instead. The tussle between Ananda-sangaree and Sambandan over the question of a national list MP caused some tensions with both leaders issuing contentious public statements.

Anandasangaree’s position was that Muttu-lingam, a veteran Jaffna politician in his late seventies, had contested in 2000 and narrowly missed being elected because of alleged EPDP vote rigging. He could not be accommo-dated on the 2001 list because the TULF was con-testing with three other parties as part of the TNA. Muttulingam’s name was put on the national list and promised the MP seat after M. Siva. Muttulingam had campaigned vigorously in the elections and had been instrumental in the TULF getting the bulk of votes from the Uduvil-Inuvil areas. These voters had opted for Sangaree who therefore wanted Muttulingam to be appointed.

Sambandan differed. He wanted the man from Muttur. Thu-rairatnasingham had polled 28, 000 preferences in the 2001 elections but failed to get elected. Sambandan also owed his victory to Thurairatnasingham. TELO’s Sri Kantha, a parachutist into Trin-comalee had edged out Sambandan in getting preference votes from the Trincomalee electoral division. It was because of the preferences from the Muttur electoral division that Sambandan got his record 40, 000 preferences. So Sambandan also had to pay his political debt.

There were however other factors too in Thurairatnasingham’s favour as opposed to Muttulingam. The former in his early sixties was comparatively younger than the latter in his early seventies. Thurairat-nasingham, an educa-tionist who started out as a teacher and then went on to become principal, education officer and retired as assistant director of education was more educationally qualified than the agriculturist Muttulingam. Besides there were other plus points for Thurai.

He hailed from Kaddaiparichaan in Muttur, an area under LTTE control. Thurairatnasingham had played a commendable role in evolving the new TULF-LTTE ‘understanding’ that contributed to the formation of the TNA. It was through Thurairatnasingham’s efforts that Sambandan was able to meet LTTE leaders in the Muttur area and do direct political canvassing. Though Sambandan by virtue of his secretary general post has gone on to cultivate a greater relationship with the Tiger hierarchy, his support base at home depends on Thuraira-tnasingham.

Furthermore, it was argued not entirely without justification that Trincomalee District needed enhanced Tamil representation because the district, once a Tamil majority region had now lost its position to Sinhala colonisation. Given the strategic importance of Trincomalee, this was something which struck a responsive chord with the LTTE. Sambandan took the issue to the LTTE and solicited Tiger endorsement. This was duly obtained. To concretise the arrangement, Sambandan and Pararajasingham met LTTE Political Wing chief S. P. Thamilchelvam and stated the case for Thuraira-tnasingham. For obvious reasons the LTTE hierarchy opted for Thuraira-tnasingham.

Late solution

Realising that the case for Muttulingam was weak Ananda-sangaree came up with a face saving solution. Muttulingam was to be given the MP seat on a gentleman’s agreement that he would vacate it in three months. Thereafter, Thuraira-tnasingham could be appointed. Unfortunately for Sangaree he was involved with Sivasithamparam’s funeral arrangements in Jaffna and could not participate along with Sambandan and Joseph in the meeting with Thamilchelvam.

When Sangaree met Thamil-chelvam and presented the compromise formula, Thamilchelvam said that although the proposal was acceptable it was now too late because Tiger Supremo Velupillai Pirapaharan had agreed to Thurairatnasingham and the decision announced.

Also, it was imperative that the Muttur area needed a representative to oversee resettlement and rehabilitation efforts. A disappointed Ananda-sangaree was to tell the BBC’s ‘Thamil Osai’ later that the nomination had to go to Thurairatnasingham because of “purakkanikka mudiaatha vendukol” (a request that could not be rejected).

There was also another important reason for the TULF to seek LTTE approval in the matter. Although Sambandan and Sangaree were divided on who should become the TULF appointee, they were firmly united in seeing that no other party from the TNA should get it. The understanding at election time was that if the TNA got two national list seats the second one should go to Kumarakurubaran of the Tamil Congress (TC) whose name was already on the national list nominees second to M. Siva. Since the TNA got only one national seat, M. Siva was appointed. Now the TULF wanted it to be filled by a TULF’er again.

But other TNA constituents also had ambitions. The TC said that if the TULF appointed someone from outside the earlier list of national nominees, it would seek legal remedy. The TELO also wanted its head Sri Kantha appointed. The EPRLF wanted its leader Suresh Premachandran appointed. All three parties communicated with the LTTE and pressed their case. Compared to the two TULF hopefuls Kumarakurubaran, Sri Kantha and Suresh were certainly better prospects in terms of age and  ability. By appealing to the LTTE and getting Tiger endorsement for its candidate, the TULF delivered a knock out blow to aspirants from constituent members of the TNA. Thus, there was no protest when Sambandan informed the TNA executive committee that the TULF after ‘consulting’ the LTTE was appointing Thurairatnasingham.

Tempest

Thus, the brewing crisis blew over like a tempest in a tea cup because of the LTTE factor. Sadly, neither the TULF nor the other constituent parties of  the TNA seem to be concerned over the growing influence and power of the Tigers in determining decisions that are internal party matters. These are not larger political issues where the TNA needs LTTE ‘guidance.’ Furthermore, in fairness to the Tigers, it must be pointed out that the LTTE intervened in these matters only because the squabbling ‘moderates’ are taking their complaints to the former. Hoping to undercut their rivals, the TNA and TULF are giving carte blanche to the LTTE to ‘adjudicate’ on what are inter-party and intra-party questions. Functional independence is being voluntarily surrendered.

 It is becoming increasingly transparent that ever since the formation of the four party TNA, the influence and power of the LTTE over the Tamil moderate political parties has enlarged. Thus, Anandasangaree takes over as the new TULF president while crucial decisions like the national list MP selection are determined by the LTTE.

Crash landing SriLankan the Emirates way

By Frederica Jansz

That the perception of inflight services provided by SriLankan Airlines has steadily spiraled down has now been confirmed after an independent survey was conducted by Org-Marg Smart. The fact finding company finalised its report on the inflight and overall services of SriLankan Airlines in April this year, concluding that the majority of passengers who fly SriLankan Airlines have complained bitterly with regard to the catering, inflight services and ticket reservations, including ground handling. 

Summarising its findings, Org-Marg states, "Some passengers seem to be comparing services past and present - therefore seeing a drop in standards."

A passenger travelling on a UL547 flight has complained, ".It is usually a friendly airline. Crew are usually helpful.. today it is quite different. Hope things will improve. After all it is our national carrier.."

Another wrote, "..in the airport as well as all other services, SriLankan Airlines cannot hold a candle to Air Lanka, as a fond memory."

A passenger flying on UL 505 wrote ".I would not be able to recommend flying with your airline."

Yet another stated, "..considering international standards..this is very poor."

Of course among the brickbats are also comments praising the inflight service and lauding the cabin crew for being courteous and thoughtful.

Appalling situation

The positive comments however are far less than those complaining strongly with regard to the overall services offered by SriLankan Airlines.

Jostled and rushed into signing a partnership with Emirates Airlines, today SriLankan has lost its once enviable image as far as inflight services and catering is concerned. In fact, this survey by Org-Marg determined that 99% of those who fly SriLankan Airlines to South Asia and India have complained bitterly on the poor quality of food that is served on the airline.

In some instances, no food at all is served. This appalling situation prevails on the Colombo/Male route and on flights to Madras, Trivandrum and Trichy where only a packet of peanuts is handed out with a cool drink for economy class travellers.

Previously on Air Lanka a cold refreshment was served on these sectors. On the Colombo/Madras sector a hot meal used to be served before Emirates Airlines took over the catering and management of SriLankan Airlines.

No breakfast served

Denying a fundamental expectation of hospitality, passengers flying from Colombo to Male have written thus -  "It is with dismay, that I comment on morning flights to Male - say you serve no breakfast but, you do serve breakfast on business class, why do you have this discrimination?"

Another states, "I am told there are no meals. I travel twice a month and was surprised at this situation. Are we going backward or forward?"

Passengers have complained that even on request they are refused food on the Colombo/Male sector. While this is only a one hour flight it needs to be remembered that passengers have to check in three hours prior to departure. They leave their homes and hotels an hour ahead of this three-hour deadline - which in many instances is at the crack of dawn or the previous night depending on the time of departure which is usually between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.

Another passenger writing to the management has stated, "It is with dismay that I comment on the morning flight to Male, you serve no continental breakfast as previously done. Why this shocking situation?"

Others complain that overall the quality on board SriLankan Airline flights "has deteriorated." so much so, that in some instances, used blankets are handed out.

As many as 99% travelling on SriLankan Airlines have expressed dissatisfaction with regard to the availability of meals. Another 79% have complained with regard to the quality of food, 75% have faulted the service in general, another 79% have complained on the non availability of a good choice in menu, while 92% are dissatisfied with the non availability of vegetarian meals.

Slip - shod service

Before the catering of SriLankan Airlines was taken over by Emirates, the selection of the hors d' oeuvre and main meals used to be of international standard. At present the hors d' oeuvres served on UL flights are so tasteless they cannot be consumed. This slip-shod service sometimes is offered where the hors d' oeuvre does not even have a dressing to complement it.   

Why the Emirates run management cannot upgrade the inflight services of SriLankan Airlines which previously earned a reputation for good food and a caring service is puzzling. A passenger asked if this attempt at downgrading the inflight services on SriLankan Airlines by Emirates is a deliberate attempt by the Middle Eastern airline to encourage travellers to instead fly Emirates, which after all has a world class reputation for excellent inflight services.

It has now been determined that while 99% of those travelling to South Asia and India are disgusted with the quality and type of food served on board, as many as 73% travelling on the European sectors have also expressed dissatisfaction. Another 60% travelling to the Far East have stated their displeasure at the standards or lack of standards as far as catering is concerned on board UL flights, while 93% travelling to the Middle East have stated the same disgust at the lack of quality meals.

Bad performance

The multi million dollar question that needs asking is how all this will affect the current image and consequent traffic on Sri Lanka's national carrier?

It appears obvious that passengers' expectations are based on former experiences of the airline. If so many have stated in writing their disgust of the food and overall services offered by SriLankan Airlines it is no small wonder the airline is performing so badly and has been forced to declare a Rs. 6,000 million loss - not once , but twice.

One passenger on UL 506, writing frankly states, ".Very poor meals. The sandwich we were served in place of the fish, I am afraid was half filled. By this time, I had lost my appetite entirely and had scarcely anything to eat."

Another travelling on UL 508, writing a tongue-in-cheek comment had this to say, ".Cauliflower curry again - same problem as dhal.also too dry as well.  At a guess I would say the meal was prepared by an English cook, not an Indian or Sri Lankan cook.  I hope you know what I mean.."

While most mentions on the cabin crew were reflective of the satisfied overall services and the enthusiasm and friendliness shown by the crew, Org - Marg notes that however, there could be improvements in responses to requests. The company has noted that perhaps the disappointments in the catering aspects could also be rubbing off onto the cabin crew, producing negative responses to passenger requests.

A lot of disappointment has been voiced also with regard to physical comfort, like seating, audio and video facilities. As many as 88% have stated their dissatisfaction with regard to seating comfort and leg space while 77% have written their disgust with audio and video facilities.

Travellers have written thus, "The seat cushioning is hard, seat tilt is incorrect...the TV on the back rest is a constant irritation when the passenger behind you keeps tapping to change functions"

Bitter complaints

Others write, "We expected to read newspapers in the language we like, all your inflight publications are only in English."

Most of the mentions on Airline reservations were areas of disappointment. Travellers have complained that in this respect SriLankan Airlines staff need to be trained better on efficiency, accuracy and knowledge.

On one occasion a passenger wrote that he purchased his ticket from a travel agent in Singapore and he had not been informed about a fare increase but ground staff had asked him to pay USD 160 more as fare.

".Inspite of holding 'ok tickets' (confirmed), we were put to inconvenience by saying that the flight was full and that our tickets were on stand by...." wrote another complainant.

A traveller flying for the last 16 years wrote, "that despite a request for an upgrade the ground staff were very rude and not at all helpful including the manager. He stated that being a member of Skyward "is of absolutely no value."

Many passengers who travel SriLankan complain that its inflight services are truly a major area of concern that should be addressed by the Emirates management. In fact, these criticisms might act as a major hurdle, since in the past, the airline thrived in this area.

Speaking to a regular passenger who has flown on UL for the past 15 years The Sunday Leader was told, "apart from a slight improvement in inflight entertainment namely, the movie and audio selection, the rest of the services have been downgraded to such an extent that even the seats are not suitable for long haul travel.

Another observation passengers have made is that one crew member serves more passengers on a meal cart than before. As a result, before completing handing out all the trays, the meals and the bread is cold.

What is difficult to comprehend is why the former People's Alliance government and President Chandrika Kumaratunga decided to marry Air Lanka to Emirates Airlines which after all, was and still is, a direct competitor to Sri Lanka's national carrier. 

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