Ratmalana Airport’s safety compromised by roadside concrete wall – Aircraft Owners

The Aircraft Owners and Operators Association (AOAOA), raised serious concerns about aviation safety in Sri Lanka, particularly pointing to the concrete boundary wall at the Colombo International Airport, Ratmalana. Built around 2006/7 in violation of ICAO standards, this wall poses significant risks, similar to the one that led to the JEJU aircraft crash in South Korea on December 29, 2024, killing 179 people.

“Currently the wall only provides a great commercial advertising opportunity where a leading conglomerate has leased this space.

Despite instructions from Minister Bimal Ratnayake for its removal, the Director General of Civil Aviation has failed to act, showing professional incompetence,”AOAOA added.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday (21), AOAOA Treasurer Nihara Jayatilleke highlighted the broader issues of negligence within the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), leading to a breakdown in domestic aviation. She referenced a 2023 report by the Organisation of Professionals Association (OPA), which pointed to unprofessional personnel within the CAA, AASL and SLAF, causing operational irregularities and inefficiencies. This has made Sri Lanka uncompetitive in the global market.

She also mentioned the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) report from June 2018, which called for critical legislative actions. Despite repeated emphasis by the association and the delivery of this report to the Transport Secretary on December 11, 2024, no corrective actions have been taken, pushing the industry closer to collapse. The tourism sector suffers due to high domestic aviation costs, deterring high-end tourists.

AOAOA noted the grounding of the domestic aviation fleet in 2022, caused by impractical insurance requirements imposed by the CAA, which the association had to resolve. They also pointed out issues like the misclassification of aircraft parts by Sri Lanka Customs and the CAA’s inability to streamline import processes, escalating operating costs and ticket prices.

In conclusion, AOAOA urged immediate corrective actions from the Transport Ministry, adherence to the 2018 ICAO audit recommendations and the implementation of the OPA’s suggestions. Without these changes, the aviation industry risks collapse and Sri Lanka should look to the Maldives as a model for a thriving domestic aviation sector.

AOAOA President Samith Abeygunawardena, Secretary Captain Kosala Fernando and Committee member Captain Gihan Fernando also participated.

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