Srilankan to become PPP soon, says PM
Sri Lanka had a relatively good safety maintenance record with no major incidents to be concerned with, President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday.
“The government treats the improvement and modernising of the safety measures and security management systems in aviation as a top priority,” he said.
“Nevertheless, aviation safety remained Sri Lanka’s priority, and regularly review and update aviation policies on safety and enhance technology usage, he said.
He also stressed that the Government of Sri Lanka was totally committed without any reservations to upgrade, develop and maintain the aviation industry in compatibility with the applicable international standards and recommended practices relating to civil aviation.
Delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of the 53rd conference of the ‘Directors General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) - Asia Pacific Region, at Colombo Hilton, President Sirisena added all possible measures would be taken for their effective implementation to enhance efficiency, effectiveness and economy.
“I request international civil aviation players like ICAO to focus attention on the need to plan and develop human resources required to face the future needs of the aviation industry. I believe the needs of countries like ours have to get priority in such exercises. In addition, integrating business development is another area, which will benefit us and I wish you would focus on it too,” President Sirisena stressed.
The govt. treats the improvement and modernising of the safety measures and security management systems in aviation is a top priority...aviation safety remained Sri Lanka’s priority...
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President Sirisena said.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing the gathering said the goal of the newly formed national government of Sri Lanka was to make Sri Lanka an aviation, naval, and financial hub of South Asia in line with the current global economic strategy.
“The Government expects to create a naval, trade and aviation hub amalgamating the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with the Port City now under construction. In addition, we would develop Hambantota as a transshipment, industrial and naval hub amalgamating Mattala Airport and the Hambantota Port and create one million job opportunities in five years,” Premier Wickremesinghe added.
Mr. Wickremesinghe said that the government was struggling to come out of the debt trap inherited from the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime amounting Rs. 9,000 billion, which was enough to construct three new NITS (National Institutes of Technology).
“The loss making national carrier the Srilankan Airlines will be converted into a Publicprivate Partnership and the BIA will be developed with a second terminal to handle six million air travellers by 2020,” he said.
Sri Lanka has already promulgated necessary regulations for the implementation of State Safety Programmes in conformity with ICAO requirements.
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productivity and efficiency.
Accordingly the operation of international air services became a responsibility of Srilankan Airlines, whilst the Development, Operation and Maintenance of civil airports in the country-including provision of Air Navigation Services -became the responsibility of the Airport and Aviation Services Ltd. which is now identified as the Statutory Service Provider.
“I understand that there are more than 12,000 international standards adopted by ICAO for the implementation by the Member States and I am pleased to note that as of today Sri Lanka has shown over 87% of Effective Implementation of the International Standards and Recommended Practices in Sri Lanka under the leadership of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka,” Minister De Silva said.
“Our government has also taken steps for the enactment of Montreal Convention — 1999 for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air and draft legislation to that effect will be presented in Parliament very soon.
“Sri Lanka has already promulgated necessary regulations for the implementation of State Safety Programmes in conformity with ICAO requirements. Also we are pleased that Sri Lanka has been able to maintain an impressive safety record over the last ten years with zero accidents,” he said.
Secretary General of the ICAO Dr. Fang Liu and the President of the Council of Civil Aviation Organisation, Olumuyiwa Bernar Aiu also spoke. The welcome address was delivered by Director General of Civil Aviation H.m.c.nimalasiri and the vote of thanks was done by DDG, Civil Aviation Authority Susantha De Silva.
The conference will run till Friday, August 5.