New Chairman at Civil Aviation Authority

Travel industry specialist Upul Dharmadasa has assumed duties as the seventh Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL).

Dharmadasa is an ex-employee of Air Ceylon who moved to Los Angeles after the closure of Air Ceylon and set a small travel office in 1980. He was the President and CEO of Upul Travel Service, an award winning tour operator in North America which has been in business in the USA for almost 35 years.

Deputy Chairman Amitha Wijesuriya, Director General and Chief Executive H.M.C. Nimalsiri, Acting Additional General Panduka Priyantha Jayaweera, Directors Sarala Chinthaka Karunaratne, Chaminda Welgama and other senior officials also participated at the event.

CAASL, is the Government body assigned with the delivery of aviation safety and oversight. The state-owned enterprise oversees air transport licensing procedures, the formulation of the aviation regulatory framework, the provision of data and reporting, as well as safety policy.