SriLankan Airlines licensed for the first time as an eligible entity for ground operations

From left: SriLankan Airlines CEO Richard Nuttall, Civil Aviation Director General and Chief Executive Officer P.A. Jayakantha, Vice Chairman G.S. Vithanage, SriLankan Airlines Senior Manager Ground Handling Sanjeewa Jayathilaka and Director Air Operations Capt. Loosan Fernando

Civil Aviation Director General and CEO P.A. Jayakantha (right) presenting the license to SriLankan Airlines CEO Richard Nuttall 

By Deepa Adikari

The Sri Lankan Civil Aviation Authority has issued the Ground Handling License to the Ground Operations Division of the national airline, SriLankan Airlines, as it has met the necessary requirements for the safe and secure operation of airport ground operations. 

Civil Aviation Director General and Chief Executive Officer P.A. Jayakantha presented the ground operation license to the SriLankan Airlines CEO Richard Nuttall yesterday.

In the process of issuing this license, high attention is paid mainly to the air safety and security of the passengers and there, the Ground Operations Inspectors of the Sri Lanka Civil Aviation Authority have taken measures to conduct extensive assessments on crucial elements such as the aircraft and passenger handling capability of the SriLankan Airlines’ Ground Operations Division, organisational structure, qualified, experienced and properly trained staff, technical and physical capability to provide operational equipment and other services etc. 

There, operation of flights through Sri Lanka’s international airports with efficiency, ensuring safety and security, with the resurgence of the aviation industry in Sri Lanka which took a heavy blow from the COVID pandemic situation, has been evaluated and admired and it is noteworthy that this type of license is issued by the Sri Lanka Civil Aviation Authority for the first time in the history.

This certification process took place on the advice and guidance of Civil Aviation Director General and Chief Executive Officer P.A. Jayakantha, under the supervision of Deputy Director General (Air Safety Regulations) Saman Gunawardena, under the leadership of Director (Air Operations) Captain Lushan Fernando. 

Sri Lanka Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Upul Dharmadasa, Vice Chairman G.S. Withanage, Sanjeewa Jayathilaka Senior Manager Airport  and Ground Handling Services SriLankan Airlines,  also joined the event along with other Senior Officers of the Sri Lanka Civil Aviation Authority and SriLankan Airlines.