Ajith Dias, Chairman of Sri Lankan Airlines, speaking at the ceremony at the airline’s premises in Katunayake, said: “Sri Lankan Airlines is a well-established company whose brand was recently voted amongst the top ten in Sri Lanka. Our new management trainees will have the opportunity to rise to lead the airline in the future. They are clearly very well accomplished to have passed this selection process, which is one that we feel should be adopted throughout other government institutions.”

The thirteen women and seven men successfully completed a multi-stage recruitment process spanning over three months which evaluated them through modern recruitment methodology, including interviews, written tests, combined with field exercises that assessed leadership qualities such as self-confidence, team role, situation awareness, decision making, creativity and communication.

According to the Colonel Sunil Peris, Director at Sri Lankan Airlines, who headed the recruitment project, the Airlines expects the best performance from these management trainees, and as well as the commitment, passion and loyalty too.

Captain Suren Ratwatte, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sri Lankan, Pradeepa Kekulawala, Head of Human Resources also expressed their ideas at this occasion.

Sri Lankan’s Management Trainee Program is operational every 3-4 years to provide for the airline’s future in terms of future expansion, upward movements, retirements and resignations. Minimum criteria for candidates included having a degree with a class from a recognized university, or a professional qualification.

The airline provides a wide range of disciplines and career paths ranging from Marketing to Flight Operations, In-flight Service, Aircraft Engineering and Maintenance, Airport Service, Finance, Cargo, Corporate Communications, Security, and Information Technology.