Mr. Rayhan Wanniappa officially assumed duties as the Acting Director General of Civil Aviation and Chief Executive Officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) on 03rd July 2025, following the retirement of the former DGCA.
A ceremony was held to mark this significant occasion in the presence of Mr. Sunil Jayarathna, Chairman of CAASL, Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, Deputy Director General (Air Safety Regulation), Mr. M. A. K. Prasanna, Deputy Director General (Aeronautical Services Regulation), along with other senior officers of CAASL.
Mr. Wanniappa has been a part of CAASL since 2003, holding several key positions over the years.
His extensive experience and strategic insight make him well-positioned to guide Sri Lanka’s aviation sector into a new era of progress and innovation.
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We sincerely thank you for the yeoman service rendered to the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka as the Director General of Civil Aviation & Chief Executive Officer, and in all your previous roles since 2023.
Your dedication and leadership have been truly commendable. Wishing you success, fulfillment, and good health in all your future endeavors during your retirement
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David Peiris Aviation (Pvt) Ltd, a newly established domestic airline and a subsidiary of the David Peiris Group, has officially received its Aircraft Operator Certificate (AOC) and operations specifications (Ops-Specs) from the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) to operate scheduled domestic passenger flights after obtaining the Airline License.
As part of the certification process, the airline recently conducted a proving flight to demonstrate its operational readiness and capability for launching commercial services on the Colombo–Jaffna route. This flight marked the fourth phase of the AOC certification process as a critical step in assessing an operator’s capability prior to final authorization.
Following a successful evaluation, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) authorized that the David Peiris Aviation to commence regular schedule flights, Charter Flights, Private Flights and Aerial Works subjected to full compliance with all applicable aviation safety and security regulations.
The application and inspection process were thoroughly reviewed by CAASL’s Civil Aviation Inspectors, under the guidance of Air Vice Marshal Sagara Kotakadeniya (Retd.), DGCA & CEO, and the leadership of Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, Deputy Director General (Flight Safety Regulations) and Actg. Director (Air Operations). The comprehensive inspection covered flight safety standards, airworthiness of aircraft, organizational structure, qualified personnel as post holders, operational readiness ground handling and security arrangements, and compliance with documentation requirements.
The AOC was officially handed over to AVM O. D. N. L. Perera (Retd.), Accountable Manager of David Peiris Aviation (Pvt) Ltd by AVM Sagara Kotakadeniya (Retd.), DGCA & CEO. Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, Deputy Director General (Flight Safety Regulations) and Actg. Director (Air Operations), Mr. Mahilal Dushantha Rathnayake, Director (Aircraft Registration & Airworthiness), and other senior officials from David Peiris Aviation also attend to this event.
All aviation service providers including AOC holders are reminded to uphold the highest standards of air safety and security and operate strictly within the approved regulatory Framework for a sustainable development in Civil Aviation in Sri Lanka.
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The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) proudly announces the appointment of Mr. Rayhan Wanniappa as the Acting Director General of Civil Aviation and Chief Executive Officer.
This appointment follows the retirement of AVM Sagara Kotakadeniya (Retd.), former DGCA & CEO.
Mr. Wanniappa has been serving the Civil Aviation Authority since 2003 in various key capacities. With over two decades of experience and a deep understanding of the sector, his leadership is expected to drive continued growth and development within Sri Lanka’s aviation industry.
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Air Transportation is the safest mode of transportation as accepted universally. Airlines, the State Aviation Regulators, Airport Operators, Air Navigation Service Providers and multitude of Aviation professionals are working round the clock to ensure the safety of aircraft operations over the skies. Yet, one cannot rule out the possibility of Air crashes and the accidents in the airspace. Latest Statistics from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) states that accident rate is 1.87 per 1,000,000 flights in 2023. Though very infrequent in nature such accidents have taken place time and again. Standards set forth by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) require States to respond swiftly and effectively to ensure that the survivors of the air accidents are searched and rescued
Civil Aviation Authority Sri Lanka (CAASL) , the State Aviation Regularity body, in collaboration with the relevant State Sector Stake holder entities including the State Military arm, SLARMY, SLNAVY, SLAF and Sri Lanka Police, has formulated a cooperative framework designated as National Aeronautical Seach and Rescue Plan (NASARP) intended to ensure that Sri Lanka would respond in an organized manner, swiftly and effectively during unfortunate eventuality involving Local or International flights over Sri Lankan airspace that might lead to search and rescue requirement.
NASARP was issued as Rules made by the Civil Aviation Authority under section 53 of the Civil Aviation Act, No. 14 of 2010, cited as ''the National Aeronautical Search and Rescue Plan Rules, No. 1 of 2023." Promulgated in the Extra Ordinary Gazette No:2347/02 dated 28th August 2023.
The executive body of the NASARP, the National Aeronautical Search and Rescue Committee (NASC) Meeting was held at ‘Maga Neguma Mandiraya’ on 21st May 2025.
This high-level meeting was presided by the ex-officio Co-Chairs to NASC, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, Prof. Kapila C.K. Perera, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshall Sampath Thuiyacontha (Retd) and ex-officio Secretary to the NASC, Director General Civil Aviation & CEO/CAASL, Air Vice Marshal Sagara Kotakadeniya (Retd).
In their official capacities, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign affairs Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries, The Commanders of the Sri Lanka Tri forces, Inspector General of Police, Director General of Disaster Management Centre and the Chairman Airport and Aviation Sri Lanka Ltd are the rest of the member of NASC.
The representatives of stake holder entities which included Sri Lanka Customs, Sri Lanka Immigration, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Aeronautical Search & Rescue Coordination Centre, Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, Sri Lanka Coast Guard, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), Department of Meteorology.
The Decisions arrived at the meeting are as follows.
- ARCC to initiate the process of reviewing the existing Aeronautical SAR Plans of Operation
- CAASL to lead coordination efforts with all stakeholders & oversee the facilitation of the development
- All stakeholders to actively engage and contribute throughout the process of the development of the Plans of Operation.
- Conduct a tabletop SAR exercise based on a scenario developed by the ARCC
- CAASL to coordination with all applicable stakeholders & facilitate the event
- All stakeholders to actively participate in the event and provide their feedback
- ARCC to obtain feedback from all participants to refine SAR strategies and enhance future operations and to conduct a post-exercise evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the SAR responses and identify areas for improvement.
- The possibility of conducting a full scale SAR exercise in collaboration with SriLankan Armed forces and other asset providers to be explored
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