Sri Lanka to acquire support from IATA to upgrade its aviation industry

by Sanath Nanayakkare

International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Regional Vice President for Asia-Pacific, Philip Goh last week expressed the global institution’s commitment to fully support the development of the aviation industry in Sri Lanka.

He said so when he arrived in Sri Lanka with a delegation from IATA to participate in the conference ‘Re-awakening the Civil Aviation Industry of Sri Lanka’, organized by the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka.

The delegation met with the Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva for discussions in this regard.

The delegation was scheduled to have discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority to explore potential measures and strategies for further advancement of the local aviation industry.

Referring to the current state of international air transportation, Philip Goh said,” Globally, it stands at 89%, while in the Asia-Pacific region, it is at 69% and Sri Lanka has made significant progress in its air transportation sector, compared to global and regional standards”.

The delegation was informed by the Minister on the measures taken to restore Sri Lanka’s air transportation sector, which experienced significant setbacks as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and other economic crisis.

The Minister said that IATA’s collaboration with Sri Lankan authorities would help identify the challenges faced by the local aviation administrators and policymakers, and help them take the industry to the next level.