Shibly Aziz appointed new Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority Board

• Peradeniya Uni senior lecturer Dr. Prasanna Perera new Deputy Chairman

Minster of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Arjuna Ranatunga has appointed a new Board of Directors to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The new appointees are Shibly Aziz PC (Chairman), Senior Lecturer, Economics Department, University of Peradeniya Dr. Lalith Prasanna Perera (Deputy Chairman), Pasan Madawa Edirisuriya, K.P.A. Tissa Silva, Defence Ministry Secretary D.M.U.B. Basnayake (Member ex-officio), Finance Ministry Director General Dept. State Accounts (Treasury Representative) D.M. Anula Harasgama ((Member ex-officio), and H.M.C. Nimalsiri (Director General and CEO) (Member ex officio). Aziz previously functioned as the founder Chairman of the CAA in 2002. He is a well-known and eminent President’s Counsel in Sri Lanka who has contributed extensively to the development of the legal system in the country from 1968. He is the former Attorney General of Sri Lanka and has served on a number of national commissions and statutory bodies and represented Sri Lankan at several international fora. He continues his legal career now in active private practice, specialising in commercial law, shipping and aviation law, and public law, and has litigated several landmark cases in the country. Aziz also served as a consultant in International Relations and Legal at Airlanka Ltd., the national carrier, from 1990 to 1994. He was appointed Director, Airport and Aviation Services Ltd. (Airport Authority) from 1985 to 1994. He was also instrumental in drafting legislation in the country, particularly air navigation laws such as the extensive amendments made to the Air Navigation Ordinance. CAA’s predecessor was the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), which was established in 1946. Initially, the DCA was entrusted to undertake all regulatory, operational and commercial functions which included operating air services, airports and air navigations services. The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka was established in 2002 in terms of the Civil Aviation Act No.34 of 2002 as a direct measure of remedying the organisational deficiencies that prevailed. The new organisation ought to have more autonomy and flexibility as per the recommendation of ICAO for greater efficiency and effectiveness to accomplish its obligatory duties.