...The company’s MA60 aircraft were initially issued Certificates of Airworthiness by the CAA. “They have been operating and we had been renewing it (certificate) but when we see reports saying this aircraft was not certified by international safety authorities, we have to reconsider whether our process was right,” Mr Nimalsiri said.

...The foremost recommendation made by IATA was that, if Sri Lanka were to be a hub, it needed a second, well-spaced runway at BIA...

Even the devas could not stop this self-acclaimed kingmaker to those from different political hues at different times from enjoying the real taste of paradise, not when every bit of it came free. The SriLankan Airlines Airbus A330 flight (UL 423) had taken off from Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok island airport, when he, imbibing too much into the old English tradition, called for a Whisky and Soda. So it was Black Label. He had knocked off quite a few by the time the aircraft touched down at Bangkok’s Swarnabhoomi airport.

As the aircraft was wheels up again and headed for Colombo, the man of many parts decided it was time for some choice wine. So he ordered one glass after another. It was mealtime and he helped himself liberally to some spicy food.And soon, he had reclined his seat flat and was fast asleep, snoring away. The aircraft had by now reached the Sri Lanka Flight Information Region (FIR). It was an hour away from touch down at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) when an officer realised he should make a courtesy visit to seat 1 A. That was to mark his presence with this lordly VIP.

Embarrassed by what he saw – a half-finished glass of red wine on the armrest and curry smeared all over the white serviette still stuck to his neck collar — he questioned a member of the cabin crew. He asked why they had not been removed.

A somewhat embarrassed steward replied, “Sir, he was in a bad mood. He wanted to know how many Chinese were among the 200 passengers flying to Colombo.” The poor guy did not know and had been reprimanded for not having the information at his fingertips. Our freebie VIP did not realise that cabin stewards were not expected to know the nationalities of passengers. As a SriLankan official said later “If he asked that during a British Airways flight, he would have been told to go ask their Border Security.”

That drew the attention of others nearby. “Who is he?” asked one. Another replied “he is on board.” What he meant to say was not the fact that the snoring lord was among the passengers on board. This time, he corrected himself and said “board member”. Which board asked another Business Class passenger? There was no answer. An official later remarked, they were all busier earning air miles than worrying about the turbulent weather their high-flying organisation has got into.