SLAAR holds 27th Annual General Meeting

Seated from left: Parveen Dissanayake, Dushy Jayaweera, Gerard Victoria, Thanuja Lankathilake, Major General (Rtd.) G.A. Chandrasiri, Capt. Themiya Abeywickrama, Gyan Amerasinghe, Eustace Silva, Rayhan Wanniappa, and Shamith Wijethilake. Standing from left: Dumindu Amarathunge, Sunethra Blok, Sureeka Fernando, Niranjan Athapaththu, Srimath Fernando, Sashini Muthuthanthri, Praharshini Bolling, Sudeshinie Jayawardena, Santhush Udumalagala, Ravi Widyalankara, and Sajith Amarasekara 

The 27th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Association of Airline Representatives (SLAAR) was held on 10 September at The Ramada Colombo.

The newly appointed committee consists of: 

• GSA Air India Chairperson Thanuja Lankathilake 
• Hayleys Aviation Immediate Past Chairman Gerard Victoria 
• GSA Emirates Airline Deputy Chairman Gyan Amerasinghe 
• GSA Air Asia Secretary Shamith Wijethilake 
• Leisure Cargo Lanka Treasurer Dumindu Amarathunge 
• GSA Saudi Airline Asst. Treasurer Srimath Fernando 
• GSA Swiss International Airline Committee Member Sureeka Fernando 
• GSA Kuwait Airways Committee Member Niranjan Athapaththu 
• GSA Singapore Airline Committee Member Praharshini Bolling 
• nGSA British Airways Committee Member Sudeshinie Jayawardena 
• GSA Indigo Airline Committee Member Sashini Muthuthanthri 
• GSA Malaysian Airline Committee Member Sajith Amarasekara 
• GSA Malindo Air Committee Member Santhush Udumalagala 
  
   

 Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka Director General and Chief Executive Officer Captain Themiya Abeywickrama graced the event as the Chief Guest, with Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. Chairman Major General (Rtd.) G. A Chandrasiri as the Guest of Honour.

Addressing the gathering, newly-elected SLAAR Chairperson Thanuja Lankathilake said, “SLAAR would continue to strengthen the close working relations and bonds we have had over the years with industry stakeholders. Especially during this time when the global aviation industry is being challenged at its highest resulting from the after effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. SLAAR would extend its fullest support in promoting Sri Lanka in becoming an aviation hub in the near future.”

“I will not deny that the task ahead for us is a monumental one, and with the newly elected committee, we will ensure that no stone will remain unturned as we drive ourselves to claw back to what it was prior to coronavirus pandemic and uplift the industry for the benefit of all its stakeholders,” she further added.

Outgoing Chairman Gerard Victoria said, “The volatile landscape in the pandemic has enforced a new outlook to the way we conduct business. It is vital to adapt, collaborate and optimise strengths to face the challenges of the pandemic while pushing boundaries in order that aviation can endure and overcome for resilient performance.”

SLAAR was founded in 1993 with the primary goal of providing the off-line Airlines with an opportunity to voice their difficulties, to seek common solutions, as well as to discuss matters pertaining to their day-to-day operations. Its membership consists of 33 passenger and cargo general sales agencies.

The Association has since earned itself a reputation for being a vibrant association that safeguards the interests of the members, as well as the interest of the travel industry. It continues to focus on meeting the challenges of the airline representatives in a professional manner whilst ensuring the growth and success of the industry.