Sri Lanka moves to strengthen aviation laws

Thursday, 27 February 2025 08:56 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Cabinet approves two separate proposals on Chicago Convention and Beijing Convention

The Government has decided to strengthen key legislations in line with international aviation security standards to address emerging threats in the industry.

The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (24) approved acceding to Article 3 bis of the Chicago Convention, which seeks to prevent the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight.

The Amendment, adopted at the 25th General Meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on 10 May 1984, came into effect on 1 October 1998.

However, despite an initial Cabinet decision on 12 February 2024 to proceed with accession, no further steps were taken till date.

Addressing the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing on Tuesday, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said by formally acceding to the Amendment, Sri Lanka aims to align its aviation policies with global standards and strengthens its commitments under the ICAO framework.

Article 3 bis explicitly prohibits the use of force by State parties against civilian aircraft, reinforcing international norms on aviation safety and security.

Separately, the Cabinet of Ministers at their meeting on Monday approved expediting the drafting of legislation that aligns with the 2010 Beijing Convention on the suppression of unlawful acts against civil aviation.

The Beijing Convention, adopted on 10 September 2010 at the International Conference on Aviation Law, criminalises the use of civil aircraft for acts of terrorism, including causing death or serious bodily harm and the deployment of biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons against aircraft.

Recognising the gap in Sri Lanka’s existing legislation – the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation Act No. 31 of 1996 which does not comprehensively address these modern threats – the Cabinet initially approved the preparation of a draft bill on 2 May 2022 to incorporate provisions of the Beijing Convention into domestic law.

The proposals submitted by Civil Aviation Minister Bimal Rathnayake were approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

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