COLOMBO : Sri Lanka’s civil aviation industry was born in 1930 with the construction of an aerodrome in Ratmalana and it served a largely administrative function. The slow growth experienced by the industry in the early years is a reflection of the historical and social conditions the country faced at that time. Since then, the industry has come a long way to be what is today.
In 1983, Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited (AASL) was incorporated and appointed as the Agent of the Government to discharge duties as a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The Civil Aviation Act No. 14 of 2010 which repealed the Air Navigation Special Provisions Act of 1982, has empowered AASL to act as the statutory service provider of all civil airports in Sri Lanka. Although AASL commenced its journey with one international airport, now they are the proud owner of five international airports throughout our motherland of Sri Lanka and presently shoulders the challenge of developing and managing four airports namely Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Colombo International Airport, Ratmalana (CIAR), Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) Batticaloa Airport and Jaffna International Airport (JIA) that fall within its purview in executing the statutory responsibilities. Accordingly, since its humble beginnings in 1983, AASL has significantly expanded its operations in Sri Lanka, and employs nearly 4000 associates in all airports.
The Mission To provide competitive, safe aviation services and superlative guest experience with best practices and the latest technology to ensure stakeholder satisfaction.
Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited, Major General (Retd.) G. A. Chandrasiri RWP, VSV, USP, ndc, psc expressed his greetings for the 40th anniversary of AASL:
“With the vision to be the friendliest aviation service partner, AASL manages five major airports in the country that have contributed to changing the lives of millions over four decades. We have passed many turbulent and challenging periods on our journey to the present. AASL has been a major catalyst for the socioeconomic development of the country. I am happy to state that we were able to pay dividends of LKR 1 billion to the state, which under the present circumstances would go a long way towards assisting the government’s efforts to address the economic hardships faced by the citizenry”
When Sri Lanka is facing its worst foreign exchange crisis after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the island nation’s earnings from tourism and remittances, AASL has been anchored enough to overcome the challenges and strong enough to proceed with their plans and objectives to reach the vision of “Friendliest aviation partner in global connectivity towards a sustainable economy. Accordingly, even under these challenging circumstances, AASL as the civil airport operator and aviation services provider in the country is carrying out long-term projects successfully by playing a vital role in the economy.
“We have once again become a dependable revenue earner for the state. I take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to the honorable minister, the honorable deputy minister, the secretary to the ministry, and the Director General of Civil Aviation for the confidence placed in our company. I also wish to thank the department of immigration and Emigration, customs, health authorities, and other agencies in our service value chain for always being together with us, working towards the common goal. I thank the Vice Chairman and the other members of the board of directors for their never-failing enthusiasm and optimism in leading our company on its mission. I also take this opportunity to thank all employees of our company from the senior management down to the employees serving at the front end round the clock for sticking with us during a most difficult period and for truly being a part of our recovery” further stated by Major General G A Chandrasiri, Chairman, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited.
