Employees of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) staged a peaceful protest this morning (18 July 2025) at the Authority’s headquarters in Katunayake, wearing black armbands to express their dissatisfaction over the withdrawal of a salary increase that was approved and paid in June but is now set to be cut from July 2025.
According to the CAASL employees’ union, the protest is due to the ongoing denial of a Rs. 10,000 living allowance that should have been added to their salaries. They say the previous Board of Directors did not include the allowance properly, which meant employees didn’t receive the full amount.
Although they raised the issue several times with the former government and board, nothing was done. After the new government took office, employees informed the Minister and Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation. Thanks to their support, the allowance was finally added to their salaries in June 2025.
The union now accuses the current Board of Directors of making an unfair and arbitrary decision to withdraw the allowance once again.
“To avoid placing blame on the current government for these decisions and actions, our union has decided to stage this silent protest, wearing black armbands as a sign of opposition to the board’s move,” the statement reads.
The Acting Director General of CAASL is currently overseas in Singapore, attending the Global Aviation and Maritime Symposium alongside Minister Bimal Rathnayake. During this period, the Chairman is reportedly assuming the duties of the Acting Director General.
Employees are calling for immediate intervention to stop the deduction and ensure the continued payment of the approved salary adjustment.
