Appointment of Hostage Negotiator - Team to be engaged hostage situation in Civil Aviation Situation
Appointing of well-trained hostage negotiators in a Sate, as a part of the crisis management team engaged in hostage taking situations such as aircraft hijacking (air piracy) is an internationally recognized norm that is in practice in all ICAO Member States.
This requirement is an essential element in respect of resolving civil aviation incidents relating to aircraft hi-jacking and holding the passengers and the crew as hostage. The two international conventions referred as Hague and Tokyo Conventions by which the international law has been formulated. Sri Lanka has ratified both Conventions.
This national requirement has been addressed at the National Civil Aviation Security Committee (NCASC) meetings since 2016 and it is becoming a reality today, with 09 senior Police Officers being appointed as the members of the Hostage Negotiator-Team to be engaged in civil aviation environment. These officers have undergone hostage negotiator course offered by the United Nation Mission, USA in the year 2006.
The appointment of 09 Senior Police Officers as the Members of the Hostage Negotiator – Team was held today the 16th July at the Ministry of Defence. (Today)
Here the appointment letters were presented by Major General (Retd.) Kamal Gunarathna, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Chairman National Civil Aviation Security Committee.
Capt. Themiya Abeywickrama, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority presented the Certificates of Acceptance to the appointees.
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The Executive Committee members of Sri Lanka Association of Airlines Representatives (SLAAR) called on the Director General of Civil Aviation & Chief Executive Officer Capt. Themiya Abeywickrama on 06th July 2020 at the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka.
They discussed the current and future airline operations in Sri Lanka and the Officials exchanged their views with DGCA. DGCA appreciated the commitment of local representatives towards the betterment of the aviation industry of Sri Lanka. SLAAR, is an association that represents over 30 foreign airlines in the Country.
Mr. Gerard Victoria, President of SLAAR represented the association along with his office bearers Ms. Dushy Jayaweera, Ms. Thanuja Lankathilake, Mr. Eustace Silva, Mr Gyan Amerasinghe and Ms. Parveen Dassenaike.
Mr. P A Jayakantha, Deputy Director General (Aviation Security Regulation), Mr. Rayhan Wanniappa, Director (Air Transport & Economic Regulation), Mr. Ishara Gunawardena, Manager (Air Services & Traffic Rights) from the CAASL were present at this meeting.
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Nineteen 19 Drone Operators from around the country were awarded Letters of Authorization for Drone Surveillance Operation in Humanitarian Tasks at Headquarters, Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) in Katunayake today (26th June 2020).
From a total pool of 89 applicants who had responded favourably to the Web Advertisement posted by CAASL which invited all potential Drone Operators to offer their services to strengthen the efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) primarily to combat the COVID-19 outbreak, they were among the 34 candidates short-listed after identifying them as capable for immediate deployment in Aerial Monitoring/Surveillance using Drone Technology in humanitarian tasks such as Remotely Monitoring for Dengue Prevention, Wildlife Protection, Human Elephant Conflicts, Disaster Management & Recovery , Archeological Sites protection etc; by respective Authorities/Agencies of the Government of Sri Lanka, as the immediate need for Drones’ use against COVID-19 pandemic itself subsided with the great success achieved by Sri Lanka now in that aspect.
They all have been successful at the Evaluation Process of the CAASL which consisted of a written Knowledge Test, physical Inspection of the Airworthiness of Drone Equipment & Remote Control Panel, Drone flying Practical Skill Test, a Medical Examination and a Police Report.
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Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP-CMA) 2020 - Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka were scheduled to be audited under the USAP-CMA, during the period 10th - 19th June’20. Scheduled audit was postponed indefinitely, owing to the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 which affected almost all ICAO Member States. Currently, ICAO has 193 Member States.
Under the Universal Security Audit Program (USAP) - 2nd cycle, Sri Lanka were last audited in
the year 2012 May 24th-31st, based on her performances on the effective implementation of aviation security oversight system, under eight critical elements in nine audit areas.
Sri Lanka scored a very satisfactory 85.06%, well above the world average of 67.89% based
on the results of 145 States already audited by then were taken into account out of the total of 191 Member States.
The postponed audit would be rescheduled by the ICAO shortly, hopefully towards the end of year 2020.
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