First-ever hostage negotiators appointed for secure civil aviation

The appointment letters were presented by Ministry of Defence Secretary and National Civil Aviation Security Committee Chairman Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne. Civil Aviation Authority Director General Capt. Themiya Abeywickrama presented the Certificates of Acceptance to the appointees. Civil Aviation (Aviation Security Regulation) Deputy Director General P.A. Jayakantha together with Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka Aviation Security Consultant Ajith Jayasekera too associated with this program

Appointing of well-trained hostage negotiators in a State as a part of the crisis management team engaged in hostage taking situations such as aircraft hijacking (air piracy) is an internationally recognised norm that is in practice in all ICAO Member States.

This requirement is an essential element in respect of resolving civil aviation incidents relating to aircraft hijacking and holding the passengers and the crew as hostage. The two international conventions referred as Hague and Tokyo Conventions by which the international law has been formulated. Sri Lanka has ratified both Conventions. 

This national requirement has been addressed at the National Civil Aviation Security Committee (NCASC) meetings since 2016 and it is becoming a reality today, with nine senior Police officers being appointed as the members of the Hostage Negotiator Team to be engaged in civil aviation environment. These officers have undergone a hostage negotiator course offered by the United Nation Mission, US in 2006.

The appointment of nine senior Police officers as members of the Hostage Negotiator Team was held on 16 July at the Ministry of Defence.