Cabinet approves National Committee to manage wildlife hazards in civil aviation

Friday, 30 October 2026 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the establishment of a National Wildlife Hazard Management Committee for Aviation Safety, which will serve as the national coordination mechanism for managing wildlife hazards in civil aviation activities.

The committee will represent all relevant stakeholders.

As a Contracting State to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), Sri Lanka is required to implement the relevant Standards and Recommended Practices to reduce the risk of aircraft-wildlife collisions. Under Section 9.4 of Volume I of Annex 14 to the Convention, a national procedure must be used to record and report such collisions, collect information on wildlife that may pose a threat, and assess the risk of collisions at or near an aerodrome through ongoing evaluation by suitably qualified persons.

Reports of wildlife collisions must also be submitted for inclusion in the Bird Collision Information System of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The Guidelines for the Asia and Pacific Region under the Convention provide for the establishment of a Wildlife Hazard Management Committee or Forum to facilitate national level action on the issue. The new committee will fulfil this role in Sri Lanka.

The proposal to this effect was submitted by Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilake.