The Cabinet of the Government of Sri Lanka has approved the appointment of Captain Daminda Rambukwella as the new Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL).

Capt. Rambukwella is a highly accomplished aviation professional with over 25 years of distinguished service in the field. His expertise spans flight safety, aircraft operations, airworthiness, personnel licensing, accident investigation, safety management systems, rulemaking, and regulatory compliance.

Prior to this appointment, he served as the Deputy Director General (Flight Safety Regulation) and Acting Director of Aircraft Operations at CAASL, where he demonstrated exemplary leadership, sound decision-making, and strong administrative capabilities. He began his career at CAASL as a Flight Operations Inspector (Aircraft Flight Operations), handling critical responsibilities across international and domestic airline operations, aviation fuel management during crises, the national COVID-19 response, accident investigations, and other major operational challenges.

He holds a valid Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) with Airbus A320 rating and multiple endorsements. His flying career spans thousands of hours across a wide range of aircraft—from the Cessna 150 Series to the Airbus A320—along with types such as the MA 60, Y-12, and Beechcraft 200. Over the course of his career, he has held multiple roles including Flight Operations Inspector, Aircraft Accident Investigator, Flight Test Examiner, Flight Instructor, Designated Check Pilot, Chief Pilot Training & Standards, and Lecturer at several universities.

Academically, Capt. Rambukwella holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Gloucestershire (UK), a Postgraduate qualification in Management from the University of Kelaniya, and a Bachelor of Science Degree from the Kotelawala Defense University. He has also earned postgraduate qualifications in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law from the University of Colombo, in addition to specialized training in Safety Management Systems (SMS) from the University of Southern California, USA. An alumnus of St. Peter’s College, Colombo 04, he was also an active sportsman during both his school and university years.

Capt. Rambukwella has gained extensive international exposure through collaborations with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and regional forums such as the ICAO Asia Pacific Regional Aviation Safety Team (APRAST). He has contributed to international safety initiatives, ICAO-standard audits, and regulatory harmonization programs, while building strong networks with civil aviation authorities worldwide.

At the national level, he has played a pivotal role in formulating the National Civil Aviation Master Plan and the National Aviation Safety Plan. He has also made lasting contributions to aviation education and industry standards, training hundreds of pilots and aviation professionals as a Flight Instructor, Examiner, SMS Instructor, and Mentor.

With his visionary leadership, Capt. Rambukwella is expected to further strengthen public–private partnerships in civil aviation, expand domestic aviation in Sri Lanka, and promote leisure and recreational aviation activities. His appointment aligns with the Government of Sri Lanka’s vision of positioning civil aviation as a key driver of national growth and with ICAO’s global commitment to a safe, secure, efficient, and sustainable aviation industry.

Engineer Janitha Ruwan Kodituwakku, Deputy Minister of Ports & Aviation, officially handed over the appointment letter to Capt. Daminda Rambukwella on 09th September 2025 at the Ministry of Transport, Highway, Ports & Civil Aviation. 

Mr. Sunil Jayarathna, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, also attended the occasion.