செய்தி ஊட்டங்கள்

U.S. Embassy Delegation Pays Courtesy Call on Director Gener...

25 ஆகஸ்ட் 2026

A delegation from the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka paid...

Mr. O. R. Rajasinghe Assumes Duties as Chairman of the Civil...

25 ஆகஸ்ட் 2026

Mr. O. R. Rajasinghe officially assumed duties today (25) as...

A delegation from the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka paid a courtesy call on the Director General of Civil Aviation and Chief Executive Officer (DGCA & CEO) of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka.

The delegation comprised Mr. Matthew Ferry - Supervisory General Services Officer, Ms. Elizabeth Wysocki - Assistant General Services Officer, Mr. David Kent - Diplomatic Technology Chief, Ms. Chandrika Manohara - Customs and Shipping Manager and Mr. Amal Malinda - Mail/Pouch Manager.

The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss matters of mutual interest.

The DGCA & CEO warmly welcomed the delegation and appreciated the continued engagement and cooperation between the U.S. Embassy and the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka.

The courtesy call provided an opportunity to further strengthen the relationship between the two parties and maintain continued coordination on matters of mutual interest.

Mr. O. R. Rajasinghe officially assumed duties today (25) as the new Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL), bringing extensive experience in financial management, internal auditing, governance and public administration to his new role.

The occasion was attended by Mr. W. W. S. Mangala, Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation, Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, Director General of Civil Aviation and Chief Executive Officer of the CAASL, Mr. Primal de Silva, Executive Director of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited, and several senior officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka.

Mr. Rajasinghe is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (FCA) and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor of Business Administration (Special) degree. He is also a member of several other locally and internationally recognized professional accounting bodies.

With 27 years of professional experience across the public and private sectors, Mr. Rajasinghe brings extensive expertise in financial management, internal auditing, statutory accounting, risk management, procurement governance and public administration. As a retired senior finance officer of the Sri Lanka Army and former Director of Internal Audit, he led one of the largest internal audit functions in the government sector, with responsibility for strengthening financial controls, accountability, compliance and institutional performance.

His international experience with the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti further enhanced his exposure to international standards, governance practices and complex administrative environments.

Speaking after assuming duties as Chairman, Mr. Rajasinghe stated that he is committed to promoting good governance, accountability, transparency, financial discipline and the effective utilization of public resources. Recognizing the highly specialized nature of the aviation sector, he expressed his intention to work closely with the Hon. minister and Hon. Secretary of the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation, the Board of Directors, the Director General & CEO, senior management and all staff of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, while drawing on their professional expertise and experience.

He also expressed his commitment to fostering a collaborative and accountable institutional environment that contributes to the continued development and advancement of Sri Lanka’s aviation sector.

The management and staff of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka extended their warm wishes to the newly appointed Chairman and pledged their fullest cooperation in supporting him in discharging his responsibilities.

– Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka –

Singapore Airlines representatives, Mr. Flon Wong, General Manager – Sri Lanka, and Mr. Terence Chew, BH – Station Manager, Colombo, paid a courtesy call on Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, Director General of Civil Aviation and Chief Executive Officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL), today at the Civil Aviation Authority.

The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss Singapore Airlines’ operations in Sri Lanka, current developments in the aviation sector and opportunities to further strengthen air connectivity between Sri Lanka and Singapore.

Discussions also focused on enhancing cooperation between the CAASL and Singapore Airlines and supporting the continued growth of safe, secure, efficient and sustainable international air services.

Capt. Daminda Rambukwella highlighted the importance of continued engagement with international airline partners in strengthening Sri Lanka’s air connectivity and contributing to the sustainable development of the country’s aviation sector.

The Singapore Airlines representatives expressed their appreciation for the continued cooperation and support extended by the CAASL and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a strong and constructive relationship with the Authority.

The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to continued collaboration towards strengthening Sri Lanka’s international air connectivity and supporting the further development of the aviation sector.

A team from Kshatra Drone Systems visited the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) today to deliver a presentation on the company’s range of drone-related products and services, with particular focus on its counter-drone technology.

During the session, the Kshatra Drone Systems team provided an overview of its counter-drone technology, including its capabilities, applications and potential uses, while also sharing the company’s experience and expertise in the field.

The session provided an opportunity for the Kshatra Drone Systems team to engage with the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, and senior CAASL officials, facilitating a valuable exchange of knowledge and technical insights on emerging drone and counter-drone technologies.

The discussions also explored the potential applications of counter-drone technologies within the civil aviation environment, particularly in supporting efforts to enhance the safety and security of civil aviation in Sri Lanka.

The engagement highlights the importance of continued knowledge sharing and engagement with emerging technologies as Sri Lanka continues to strengthen its capabilities to address the evolving challenges associated with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) has adopted the proposals presented by EHang Intelligent under its Global Fast-Track Programme, aimed at establishing the first electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) sandbox in Sri Lanka, with a target of achieving initial sandbox commercialisation within four months.

The development follows a series of discussions between EHang Intelligent and the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation, followed by technical engagements with the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) to assess the proposed approach for introducing eVTOL operations in Sri Lanka.

The EHang delegation, comprising Mr. Conor Yang, Chief Financial Officer; Ms. Xiao Na Lee, General Manager – Operations; Mr. Hu Along, Vice President – Guangzhou; and members of the company’s operations and technical teams, held discussions with the Director General of Civil Aviation and Chief Executive Officer (DGCA & CEO), Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, together with relevant CAASL officials and inspectors.

During the technical evaluation, the CAASL team and EHang representatives held detailed discussions on the proposed Global Fast-Track Programme, including the implementation pathway, regulatory requirements, operational framework, aircraft and technical requirements, infrastructure, airspace considerations, maintenance arrangements, personnel requirements and other matters relevant to the establishment of an eVTOL sandbox.

The proposed programme is designed to provide a structured and accelerated pathway for the assessment and introduction of eVTOL operations, while ensuring that all applicable regulatory, operational and safety requirements are addressed throughout the implementation process.

The adoption of the proposed fast-track approach marks an important milestone in Sri Lanka’s efforts to embrace Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and emerging aviation technologies. The four-month target reflects the proposed implementation timeline and remains subject to the successful completion of the required regulatory, technical, operational and safety assessments and approvals.

Further technical engagement will continue between EHang and the relevant CAASL inspectors and technical teams to progress the necessary regulatory and operational requirements for the proposed sandbox.

This initiative represents a significant step towards positioning Sri Lanka as a potential regional destination for Advanced Air Mobility and eVTOL innovation, while maintaining a strong focus on regulatory compliance, operational integrity and the highest applicable standards of aviation safety.