Three-year stint in Dubai for SriLankan staff

PARTNERSHIP: The strategic partnership between SriLankan Airlines and Emirates has enhanced the career development of a large number of staff of the National Carrier by providing them opportunities of spending several years in Dubai through the SriLankan-Emirates secondment programme.

Staff from a variety of departments have been selected for three-year stint with the Emirates group to further their skills and knowledge. They include staff from Airport Service Delivery, Airport Service Support (Ramp), Cargo Operations, Airport Service Support (Utility) and Engineering and Maintenance.

"Being picked for this programme is a reward for our most dedicated staff, since only the best performers are chosen," said Sunil Dissanayake, Head of Human Resources at SriLankan.

The secondment programme has drawn praise from all quarters. Ajith Fernando, Manager Airport Service Support, said:

Several staff who recently returned to Colombo after completing their secondments, have been promoted. SriLankan staff are seconded to different arms of the Emirates Group, which include its ground services company DNATA, and its cargo arm Emirates Skycargo.

With Dubai being one of the world's major travel hubs, staff are exposed to more advanced systems and work environments, and are also enriched by the opportunity to work with more than 30 different nationalities since Emirates has staff from around the world.

With BIA in the midst of a major expansion programme, with ever-increasing levels of traffic, the knowledge gained by the SriLankan staff serves to enhance the levels of service for passengers.

"One important factor is that these staff retain their jobs in SriLankan, to which they return after three years", observed Priyantha Rose, Line Maintenance Manager.