Sri Lanka informs ICAO of its plan to become hub in region for training Aviation professionals
Source: dailymirror.lk
Sri Lanka informs the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) of its plan to become a hub in South Asia for training aviation professionals, a statement from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said.
At the invitation of Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO Secretary General Janith Ruwan Kodituwakku, Deputy Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, together with Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, Director General of Civil Aviation and Chief Executive Officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL), met with the Secretary General at ICAO Headquarters in Montreal, Canada, during the 42nd ICAO Assembly.
The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between Sri Lanka and ICAO, in line with ICAO’s strategic priorities of ensuring safe and secure aviation operations, advancing environmental sustainability, and enabling seamless, accessible, and efficient global air transport.
Key highlights of the discussions included:
• Sri Lanka’s plans to appoint a voluntary Ambassador based in Canada to represent the country at ICAO Headquarters in Montreal.
• Establishing an official Sri Lankan presence at ICAO HQ with dedicated office space, similar to other Member States.
• Sri Lanka’s intention to contest for a seat on the ICAO Council at the next election in three years.
• Strengthening technical cooperation and capacity-building opportunities for Sri Lanka’s aviation sector through ICAO-led training and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• Supporting capacity building in Sri Lanka with the vision of developing the country as a training hub in South Asia, by creating opportunities to train aviation professionals from across the region.
• Supplying international experts through ICAO to conduct specialised training programmes, workshops, and seminars to uplift professional standards in aviation.
• Assisting major aviation projects in Sri Lanka, including air navigation systems, airport development, training facility construction, and other infrastructure initiatives, through the Capacity Development and Implementation Bureau (CDI), covering project management, procurement, feasibility studies, and related technical services.
CAASL and CDI will define priority areas of cooperation once the National Civil Aviation Master Plan of Sri Lanka is approved. CDI is committed to supporting Sri Lanka’s modernisation of aviation infrastructure, including airports and air navigation facilities. Additionally, the two sides will enhance cooperation in capacity building through a customised training needs analysis for Sri Lanka’s aviation sector.
Mr. Salazar commended Sri Lanka for its consistent commitment and valuable contributions as an active ICAO Member State. He specifically appreciated Sri Lanka’s achievement in maintaining the highest safety and security effective implementation scores in South Asia in both ICAO audits, reflecting the country’s robust regulatory oversight. Furthermore, he praised Sri Lanka’s Next Generation Aviation Professionals (NGAP) programme, initiated several years ago, as a model initiative that continues to build a skilled workforce for the future of aviation.
During the meeting, the Secretary General also explained ICAO’s Strategic Planning framework, emphasising the principle of “no country left behind” and the goal of developing safe, secure, and environmentally sustainable global aviation systems.
The Secretary General formally handed over ICAO’s Strategic Action Plan to the Deputy Minister. Also, present was Mr. Tao Ma, Regional Director of the ICAO Asia-Pacific Office in Bangkok, Thailand, who extended an invitation to the Deputy Minister and the DGCA & CEO of CAASL to visit the ICAO Asia-Pacific Office in Bangkok to initiate the implementation of the plan discussed with the Secretary General.
With the steady increase in tourist arrivals and the continued growth of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, DGCA and CEO of CAASL, expressed his strong belief that Sri Lanka’s civil aviation sector will continue to expand, evolve, and play a pivotal role in supporting national development and regional connectivity.
