Civil Aviation is an essential global infrastructure to every country which facilitates international travel, trade and tourism within countries and across the borders. The Convention on International Civil Aviation (also known as Chicago Convention) was signed on 7 December 1944 with the objective of promoting safe and efficient air transportation system. Sri Lanka ratified the Convention in 1948. Pursuant to the Convention, the International Civil Aviation Organization was established as a United Nations specialized agency to manage the administration and governance of the Convention and primarily to develop and implement International Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in aviation safety and security for efficient conduct and regularity of aviation business and maintaining an economically sustainable and environmentally responsible civil aviation sector.
Civil Aviation Authority is the regulator entrusted to implement the SARPs through the national legislation.
The responsibility of maintaining a safe and sound air transportation system is the utmost responsibility entrusted to the regulator, the Director General of Civil Aviation on behalf of the State. The Directors General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) who heads the national regulatory authority of the countries in Asia and Pacific hold an Annual Conference since 1960 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 in a uniform and consistent basis to achieve the objectives of ICAO. The 53rdDGCA conference is scheduled to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 01st to 05th August 2016. Previously, the 26th conference has been held in Sri Lanka in 1990.
In the 71 years history of the International Civil Aviation Organization, the President of the Council of ICAO and the Secretary General will be visiting Sri Lanka for the first time to participate in this Conference.
Furthermore delegations from over 30 States including airlines and aviation services provider organizations and 07 international professional agencies will take part in the Conference. Apart from the States in the Asia and Pacific Region, several other key participants will be the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the USA, European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), International Air Transport Association (IATA), International Federation of Pilots’ Association (IFALPA), Airports Council International (ACI), Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO), Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), Boeing and Airbus.
The five day Conference is scheduled to be held at the Hilton Colombo His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, The President will grace the opening ceremony as the Chief Guest while Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Prime Minister will attend as the Guest of Honor along with Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation and Hon. Ashok Abeysinghe, Deputy Minister of Tran sport and Civil Aviation.
