Sri Lanka Appoints First Batch of Independent Air Accident Investigators

• Minister says Aviation Act will be amended to establish Aviation Accident Investigation Bureau

Letters of appointments to the first batch of 11 Air Accident Investigators who would take over to investigate air accidents in the Sri Lankan airspace were handed over by Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva last week.

This is the first time in the history of the Sri Lankan aviation services sector, Air Accident Investigators were appointed to identify accurate information, investigate the true cause of air accidents and take necessary actions to prevent any future disasters in the Sri Lankan airspace.

Minister de Silva said that the regulatory role of the global aviation sector is performed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the regulatory activities of the Sri Lankan aviation sector should follow the ICAO standards.

“For so long, there was no institution or proper program to accurately conduct investigations of aircraft accidents that occurred in Sri Lankan airspace,” the Minister added.

He said that after deep study into the matter, the steps taken by the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka to establish an independent pool of Air Accident Investigators is a great leap forward for the elevation of the Sri Lankan aviation sector.

“Therefore, immediate steps will be taken to amend the Aviation Act to establish the Aviation Accident Investigation Bureau for these activities without delay,” the Minister said.

Training for Air Accident Investigators is conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka adhered to the standards stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The team will be operated as an independent body under the purview of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation emphasises that the team operated under the Ministry at present, will be established as an Accident Investigation Bureau in future.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation K.D.S. Ruwanchandra and Civil Aviation Authority Director General P.A. Jayakantha also attended the occasion.

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