Air Transportation is the safest mode of transportation as accepted universally. Airlines, the State Aviation Regulators, Airport Operators, Air Navigation Service Providers and multitude of Aviation professionals are working round the clock to ensure the safety of aircraft operations over the skies. Yet, one cannot rule out the possibility of Air crashes and the accidents in the airspace. Latest Statistics from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) states that accident rate is 1.87 per 1,000,000 flights in 2023. Though very infrequent in nature such accidents have taken place time and again. Standards set forth by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) require States to respond swiftly and effectively to ensure that the survivors of the air accidents are searched and rescued
Civil Aviation Authority Sri Lanka (CAASL) , the State Aviation Regularity body, in collaboration with the relevant State Sector Stake holder entities including the State Military arm, SLARMY, SLNAVY, SLAF and Sri Lanka Police, has formulated a cooperative framework designated as National Aeronautical Seach and Rescue Plan (NASARP) intended to ensure that Sri Lanka would respond in an organized manner, swiftly and effectively during unfortunate eventuality involving Local or International flights over Sri Lankan airspace that might lead to search and rescue requirement.
NASARP was issued as Rules made by the Civil Aviation Authority under section 53 of the Civil Aviation Act, No. 14 of 2010, cited as ''the National Aeronautical Search and Rescue Plan Rules, No. 1 of 2023." Promulgated in the Extra Ordinary Gazette No:2347/02 dated 28th August 2023.
The executive body of the NASARP, the National Aeronautical Search and Rescue Committee (NASC) Meeting was held at ‘Maga Neguma Mandiraya’ on 21st May 2025.
This high-level meeting was presided by the ex-officio Co-Chairs to NASC, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, Prof. Kapila C.K. Perera, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshall Sampath Thuiyacontha (Retd) and ex-officio Secretary to the NASC, Director General Civil Aviation & CEO/CAASL, Air Vice Marshal Sagara Kotakadeniya (Retd).
In their official capacities, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign affairs Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries, The Commanders of the Sri Lanka Tri forces, Inspector General of Police, Director General of Disaster Management Centre and the Chairman Airport and Aviation Sri Lanka Ltd are the rest of the member of NASC.
The representatives of stake holder entities which included Sri Lanka Customs, Sri Lanka Immigration, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Aeronautical Search & Rescue Coordination Centre, Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, Sri Lanka Coast Guard, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), Department of Meteorology.
The Decisions arrived at the meeting are as follows.
- ARCC to initiate the process of reviewing the existing Aeronautical SAR Plans of Operation
- CAASL to lead coordination efforts with all stakeholders & oversee the facilitation of the development
- All stakeholders to actively engage and contribute throughout the process of the development of the Plans of Operation.
- Conduct a tabletop SAR exercise based on a scenario developed by the ARCC
- CAASL to coordination with all applicable stakeholders & facilitate the event
- All stakeholders to actively participate in the event and provide their feedback
- ARCC to obtain feedback from all participants to refine SAR strategies and enhance future operations and to conduct a post-exercise evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the SAR responses and identify areas for improvement.
- The possibility of conducting a full scale SAR exercise in collaboration with SriLankan Armed forces and other asset providers to be explored
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The CASP-AP National Recurrent Inspector Workshop was successfully conducted at the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) from 21st to 24th April 2025. This event brought together aviation security professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region.
The workshop was attended by eight international participants representing Bhutan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, along with Aviation Security inspectors from CAASL.
The sessions were led by Mr. Tony Blackiston, Programme Coordinator and Senior Aviation Security Advisor of CASP-AP, and Ms. Lita Lee, Training and Capacity Building Officer of CASP-AP.
The workshop aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of Aviation Security inspectors and foster regional collaboration in aviation security.
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The 23rd Meeting of the Asia Pacific Regional Aviation Safety Team (APRAST/23) held at Bangkok, Thailand, 07th to 11th April 2025, with representing of all Asia Pacific Regional States and International Organizations related to Civil Aviation including ICAO, FAA, EASA, IATA and CANSO.
This meeting serves as a valuable opportunity for participants to learn from one another, address emerging challenges, and work collectively toward creating a safer aviation environment across the region and serves as a critical platform for aviation safety professionals in the region of Asia-Pacific to collaborate, share insights, and drive improvements in Aviation Safety.
The primary agenda of this year’s meeting consisted of the following activities and discussions of papers by two working groups where CAASL contributed tremendously.
- Review and Update of APRAST Activities
- RASG-APAC/14 Decisions and Conclusions
- Review of the RASG-APAC Annual Work Programme 2024-2025
- Fostering a Positive Safety Culture
Their involvement in APRAST/23 will help strengthen international collaboration and also will contribute to the implementation of key safety initiatives in international forums where all Asia-Pacific Regional States including China, Australia, and also the USA, all International Aviation Organizations and major Aircraft Industries including Airbus and Boeing join hands together to achieve the utmost common goal which is the Flight Safety.
Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, Deputy Director General (Flight Safety Regulation) and Civil Aviation Inspector, Mr. Isuru Sarathchandra of CAASL participated for this event.
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The 32nd Steering Committee Meeting of COSCAP - South Asia (Cooperative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness Program – South Asia), an organization established to promote safety in civil aviation, commenced today (22nd April) in New Delhi, India.
Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sagara Kotakadeniya, the Director General of Civil Aviation and Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Civil Aviation Authority, currently holds the Chairmanship of COSCAP-SA.
The Steering Committee is led by a Chairperson elected from among the SC Members, who serves for a term of two consecutive years and presides over the annual meetings. Sri Lanka’s DGCA was elected as Chairperson at the 31st Steering Committee Meeting, held in Bhutan last year.
Established in 1997, COSCAP-SA has played a vital role in enhancing the safety of civil aviation across the South Asian region. The Steering Committee is responsible for guiding the program’s initiatives, which aim to improve aviation safety throughout South Asia.
In addition to member states, the meeting was attended by representatives from Airbus, Boeing, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the Civil Aviation Authorities of the United Kingdom (CAA-UK) and France (DGCA-France).
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Marking a significant advancement in Sri Lanka’s Aviation Sector, the Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) Sri Lanka Team proudly launched the 04th Edition of the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) Sri Lanka and unveiled the newly developed AIM Sri Lanka website today, April 10, at a special ceremony held at Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake.
The event celebrated the dedication and collaborative efforts of the AIM Sri Lanka team in ensuring the continued enhancement of aviation safety and efficiency through accurate, timely, and comprehensive aeronautical information services.
In a symbolic gesture, Mrs. Nishani Cooray, Chief Manager of the AIM Unit, presented the first official copy of the 04th Edition of the AIP to Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sagara Kotakadeniya, Director General of Civil Aviation.
The event was graced by Air Chief Marshal (Retd.) H. D. Abeywickrema, Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL), along with senior officials from AASL and the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL).
This milestone not only reflects Sri Lanka's commitment to aligning with international standards and best practices but also enhances the nation's role in regional and global aviation navigation and safety frameworks.
The newly launched AIM Sri Lanka website provides a modern, user-friendly platform offering access to critical aeronautical data and resources, reinforcing transparency and operational efficiency across aviation stakeholders.
📍 *Visit the new AIM website: www.aimsrilanka.lk
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