ICAO help sought to establish Aviation Training Centre

Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday said the Government would seek help from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to set up a aviation training centre in Sri Lanka.

“It is very important to have a training centre locally for people who like to join this career. I hope that ICAO will help us to establish a training centre here. We have experts who can handle operational matters,” the Minister said.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the 13th Meeting of South East Asia and Bay of Bengal Sub Regional Automatic Dependence Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Working Group of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at Ramada Hotel, Colombo.

The minister said airline industry was growing day by day. "The industry is going through in a tremendous change at present. Safety is the most essential thing in air travelling. We have many problems including financial issues when we are trying to develop the industry. The ICAO is here to help us," he said.

"Situation is same in all other South Asian countries. So we need man power, technology and knowledge. Human resource is a must in this regard. I strongly believe that establishing a new radar system will be a bigger step in aviation industry, ” he said.

The deliberations will go on until November 16. Aviation Professionals from 12 countries including China, Hong Kong-China, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Thailand, the USA and representatives from International Air Transport Association (IATA), International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations (ICCAIA), Civil Air Navigation services Organization (CANSO) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and Navigation and Surveillance (CSN) of Asia Pacific region take part in the conference.

Civil Aviation Director General and Civil Aviation Authority Chief Executive Officer H.M.C. Nimalasiri, Additional Secretary R.M.M.I. Rathnayake, Vice Chairman Ranjith Silva, Executive Director Johnne Jayaratne and ministry officials attend.