At a ceremony held at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, the Sri Lankan Aviation College, affiliated with the International Aviation Association gave graduation certificates to 450 students who completed degree and diploma courses in the aviation sector. The event marked a noteworthy achievement after five years for the premier institution in Sri Lanka which conducts courses in compliance with global aviation standards.
Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation was the chief guest. Suren Raghavan, Minister of State for Higher Education and Ashok Pathirage, Chairman of SriLankan Airlines also attended the event.
The Sri Lankan Aviation College offers a diverse range of courses covering pilot training, aircraft engineering, technician programmes, cabin crew, ground operations, air cargo handling, and approximately ten other aviation-related courses.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva commended the College’s contribution to the aviation industry, emphasising the capabilities of graduates produced by the institution. Despite being a small country with a single airline, Sri Lanka takes pride in the high standards maintained by Sri Lankan Airlines’ aviation college, he said.
Minister de Silva acknowledged the challenges faced by the global aviation industry during the Covid crisis, highlighting the worldwide collapse of the airline sector and the subsequent suspension of flights and aircraft production. He recognised the ongoing impact on the aviation industry and the need to strengthen the economy. Expressing gratitude to President Ranil Wickremesinghe for his efforts, Minister de Silva affirmed the Government’s commitment to stabilising the economy in the face of ongoing challenges.
CT
