Sri Lanka Strengthens Ties with International Civil Aviation Organization at Dubai Air Show 2025

Sri Lanka made significant strides in advancing its civil aviation agenda during the Dubai Air Show 2025 (DAS25), as Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, Director General of Civil Aviation and Chief Executive Officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL), engaged in high-level discussions with a delegation from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

These discussions built upon the outcomes of a previous meeting held at the 42nd ICAO Assembly in Montreal, Canada, where Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary General of ICAO, Hon. Eng. Janitha Ruwan Kodituwakku, Deputy Minister of Ports & Civil Aviation, and Capt. Rambukwella explored opportunities for closer collaboration. The dialogue focused on enhancing aviation safety and security, promoting environmental sustainability, and facilitating efficient and accessible global air transport, in alignment with ICAO’s strategic priorities.

During the meetings, Sri Lanka and ICAO explored ways to position the country as a South Asian aviation training hub, leveraging its national infrastructure to attract regional and international aviation professionals. Both sides emphasized expanding technical cooperation and capacity-building through ICAO-led programs, with the aim of sharing expertise and elevating industry standards. The discussions also included plans to deploy international experts to conduct specialized training programs, workshops, and seminars, while supporting aviation development projects across the country, including improvements in air navigation systems, airport infrastructure, and training facilities, facilitated by ICAO’s Capacity Development and Implementation Bureau (CDI).

The ICAO delegation at DAS25 comprised Mr. Christian Khouzam, Project Manager of the Business Development Unit; Mr. Mekki Lahlou, Resource Mobilization Officer at CDI; and Ms. Sara Kocnim, Data Sales Associate at the Business Development Unit. As a continuation of the dialogue, the ICAO CDI team held a follow-up meeting with Capt. Rambukwella during the exhibition, reaffirming the commitment to long-term collaboration.

The Dubai Air Show, now in its 21st edition, is the world’s largest and most influential aviation exhibition, drawing over 148,000 attendees and 1,500 companies from more than 150 countries. The event serves as a premier platform for global aviation collaboration, innovation, and strategic partnerships. Through its engagement with ICAO at DAS25, Sri Lanka has reinforced its commitment to advancing aviation safety, sustainability, and excellence, while strengthening international partnerships to support the continued growth of the nation’s civil aviation sector.