Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilake today (10) paid an official visit to Ceylon Aeronautical Services (CAS), Sri Lanka’s leading privately owned Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, located in Koggala. He was accompanied by Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation W.W.S. Mangala, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka Sunil Jayarathne and Director General of Civil Aviation and CEO of CAASL, Captain Daminda Rambukwella.
The delegation was welcomed by Mr. Sampath Ranaweera, President (CAS), Vice President Air Vice Marshal P. D. Jayanath Kumarasiri (Retd.) and members of the senior management team.
Ceylon Aeronautical Services (Pvt) Ltd is a well-established aircraft maintenance and repair organization specializing in major overhaul and heavy maintenance of De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft. The facility supports operators from the Maldives and other international markets, helping position Sri Lanka as an emerging regional hub for aircraft maintenance.
During the visit, the Minister inspected a DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft that had arrived from Cochin International Airport (VOCI), India, and is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance at the Koggala facility. Another Twin Otter aircraft is also undergoing maintenance at CAS’s Ratmalana airport hangar, reflecting the company’s growing workload and regional demand.
Speaking during the visit, the Minister said he was pleasantly surprised by the scale and standard of the facility at the Koggala BOI Zone. He praised the Sri Lankan entrepreneurs behind CAS for building a world-class aviation maintenance operation and commended the company for providing employment to nearly 200 aviation professionals and aircraft technicians. He also noted CAS’s significant contribution to strengthening Sri Lanka’s aviation sector and earning foreign revenue through international MRO services.
While acknowledging the success of the Koggala operation, the Minister encouraged CAS to consider expanding its presence closer to Colombo to further improve visibility, accessibility and future growth opportunities within Sri Lanka’s aviation ecosystem.
In addition to its MRO activities, CAS also serves as the authorized Bell Helicopter agent for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, further strengthening its role in the regional aviation support network.
