Sri Lanka Association of Airline Representatives holds AGM

The Sri Lanka Association of Airline Representatives (SLAAR), the body that represents the General Sales Agencies (GSA) of foreign airlines with a presence in Sri Lanka, held its 24th Annual General Meeting at the Salon Anthurium, Galadari Hotel recently. SLAAR has a membership of 33 organisations that represent over 45 airlines that are currently in Sri Lanka. 

Dushy Jayaweera, Director Hemas Air Services, GSA for Malaysia Airlines, was re-elected as the President for a second term. In her speech, she gave a detailed account of the programs carried out by the Executive Committee for the membership in the past year and said that she looked forward to the members support to ensure that the next year too would be an eventful one. The Chief Guest on the occasion was H.M.C. Nimalsiri, Director General of Civil Aviation and CEO Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka. In his keynote speech, Nimalsiri outlined the work done by GSA’s in bringing new airlines to Sri Lanka. He commended the GSA’s for providing a supporting role to their principals and for assisting the Civil Aviation Authorities in creating a sustainable and regularised environment for the airlines to thrive. He said that SLAAR played a leading role in assisting to formulate the recently-presented Civil Aviation Policy and the policy protects the GSA’s who he considers to be a vital stakeholder in the country’s tourism industry.   

The Guests of Honour at the meeting were the Director Air Transportation and Economic Regulations of the Civil Aviation Authority, Rayhan Wanniappa, the Manager Air Transportation of the CAA, Ishara Gunewardena and the National Carrier’s Manager Sri Lanka Sanjeeva Jayatilleke. The AGM concluded with High Tea at the Lobby of the Galadari Hotel for the members and invitees.