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53rd Directors General Conference of Asia and Pacific Region, Colombo, Sri Lanka

August 06, 2016

The 53rd Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation of Asia Pacific Region ("DGCA53") was held at Hilton Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 01st through 05th of August 2016 under the theme of ‘Fostering safe, secure and efficient aviation system in an eco-friendly environment with no country left behind’.

This annual conference held since 1960 brings together all Directors General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) heading the national regulatory authorities of the countries in the Asia and Pacific (APAC) Region,with the objective of working together on a common platform to ensure that the international rules and standards in civil aviation are implemented and adhered to in a uniform and consistent manner to achieve the objectives of ICAO. It is the acme of the annual aviation events in the APAC Region.

Regular participants of the conference include the President of the council and Secretary General of ICAO, representatives of ICAO Asia Pacific Regional Office Bangkok, Directors General of Civil Aviation of the states in the region, their ANS providers, Aircraft Manufactures, and international aviation related bodies such as EASA, IATA, ACI, CANSO, IFATCA, IBAC, IFATSEA etc. This year’s event was attended by nearly 400 high-level delegates in the aviation sector.

Airport and Aviation Services (SL) Ltd was called upon to assist in this event by providing services towards the facilitation of participating delegates upon arrival and departure. In response AASL offered exclusive priority to the delegates by facilitating them through the Silk Route, fast track formalities on Arrival and Departure,and serving out an ultimate flight comfort to all delegates.

AASL contributed two papers for the conference and also co-hosted lunch for the delegates on the conference day of 3rd August 2016. AASL also manned one of the promotional stalls at the conference venue which provided a valuable opportunity to promote the Private Jet operations at Ratmalana, BIA developments, investment opportunities at MRIA and the programmes of the Civil Aviation Training Centre.

On 4th August 2016, President of the ICAO Council Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, Secretary General of ICAO Dr. Fang Liu, and Director - Air Transport Bureau of ICAO Mr. Boubacar Djibo, were accompanied by an AASL team headed by Executive DirectorMr. Johanne Jayaratne, on a visit to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA). During this visit, officials discussed the commercial viability of the Country’s Second International Airport and the Call for Expressions of Interest for Investments and Commercial Operations at MRIA by AASL. The Executive Director further elaborated on the other developments in close proximity to the airport such as the Sea Port, Convention Center, Sports Stadium, and other major infrastructure developments, and their interdependence on each other. He emphasized the need for a holistic approach for the integrated development of these mega projects, which was well received by the ICAO officials.


Photos by: AASL Media