Mar 16, Colombo: Letters of appointments were awarded Thursday to the first batch of Air Accident Investigators who have been appointed to investigate air accidents in the Sri Lankan airspace.

Accordingly, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Nimal Siripala De Silva handed over the letters of appointment to 07 Air Accident Investigators at the Ministry Auditorium today.

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

Expressing views at the occasion the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation stated that the regulatory role of the global aviation sector is performed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (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 occurred in Sri Lankan airspace,” the Minister said.

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 Organization (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 emphasizes 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 – Mr. K.D.S. Ruwanchandra and the Director General of Civil Aviation & Chief Executive Officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka P.A .Jayakantha also attended the occasion.