Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

SriLankan Engineering has strengthened its reputation for excellence and customer-friendliness among airlines in the region with the launch of its new website www.srilankan.aero/mro.

SriLankan s Acting Head of Engineering Priyantha Rose said: 'Our new website has been designed to provide existing and prospective clients with detailed information on our products and services, and to also provide rapid responses to their queries. We have already had some excellent reviews on the website from customer airlines and we intend to improve the site further.'

SriLankan Engineering has positioned itself as an MRO of choice with its competitive rates, high level of expertise, and on-time completion of projects. It is accredited by the prestigious European Aviation Safety Agency, the General Civil Aviation Authority of the UAE, the Civil Aviation Authority of Qatar, the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka.

The aircraft Maintenance-Repair-Overhaul (MRO) arm of SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Engineering recently carried out major projects for a number of new airline customers in South Asia, including the large Indian carriers GoAir and IndiGo, and has a longstanding customer in Pakistan s Airblue. It also handles all work on the SriLankan Airlines fleet.

SriLankan Engineering s facilities at Bandaranaike International Airport have been much modernized in recent years, and several new programmes are going on to increase its capabilities further.

The colourful multi-page website replaces the single page that had earlier existed for SriLankan Engineering on the airline s main website.

The user-friendly website contains detailed information on SriLankan Engineering s products and services, including aircraft maintenance services maintenance support and aircraft component repair services aircraft engineering tools and spares available and training for aircraft engineers and technicians of other airlines.

The website, which was designed in-house at SriLankan Airlines, also includes the history of SriLankan Engineering and the certifications it holds from various authorities. It also contains informative photographs of SriLankan Engineering s hangars, workshops, technical training school, and other facilities.

Former Sri Lanka Navy Commander Admiral Cecil Tissera is willing to offer his services and expertise in further developing the country s maritime sector.

His offer comes in the wake of SLN s reported move to set up cantonments at key locations in the Northern, Eastern and North-Western coast, to meet any future terrorist threat from the sea. He told the Asian Tribune he is ready to work in a advisory capacity.

Admiral Tissera was the brains behind the SLN s Inshore Patrol Craft Construction Project (IPCCP) resulting in the saving of over Rs. 09 million per boat 10 years ago. It was a stepping stone for shipbuilding by the SLN. The building of the first ever IP craft by the Navy commenced in March 2000.

Tissera, who started his naval career at the very bottom as an ordinary sailor in 1970 had the good fortune to rise to the highest rank in the Navy. He commanded the Navy from 1997 to 2000. Among the prestigious positions he held previously in the SLN, was Deputy Director Naval Personnel and Training (1985-1988). He was among the Navy Chiefs who faced the most difficult enemy challenges to the SLN until his retirement. He took over the islets off the Northern coast to facilitate smooth civil administration and rehabilitation work.

A member of the Nautical Institute, United Kingdom, he has followed courses - among other places - in the Institute of Management, UK, National Defence College, Pakistan and Foreign Officers Training Technology, Australia.

Admiral Tissera won the praise of defence experts for initiating a scheme to make maximum use of limited resources, to minimize wastage, irregularities and corruption within the Naval establishment.

His special achievements included -

(1) establishment of the Naval Air-wing and

(2) the indigenous IPCC Project,

(3) Updating the Navy Act

(4) Accreditation of the Naval and Maritime Academy to the Kelaniya University,

(5) serving as President of the Nautical Institute, Sri Lanka Branch and

(6) organizing the first ever Marine Asia 2000 Exhibition and Conference.

He was the third Sri Lankan to be made a Companion of the Institute of Management of the United Kingdom,

Despite these achievements, the then President Chandrika Kumaratunga gave him neither an extension nor a suitable post as promised after his retirement. In 1998 his name was proposed to the position of Joint Operations Commander but it never materialized.

If the country is to be developed as envisaged by the Government it is vital that all talent has to be harnessed in every sector regardless of political differences, according to him.

He is believer in the need to maintain balanced forces. In an interview with the Asian Tribune he scoffed at those who say that Sri Lanka s workforce cannot cope with the challenges of the modern world, both in the State and Private sectors and it is the responsibility of organizational heads to do more for training their staff.

Eleven years ago in an interview with the Jane s Defence Weekly he accurately predicted that the SLN will weaken the LTTE by stopping their logistics. What he told the journal is valid at all times in facing any eventuality:

The success of the Navy is mainly due to the loyal and dedicated commitment of all concerned. In this endeavour, shore-based technical maintenance and logistic support play a vital part in keeping ships operational at sea for long periods. I have taken certain steps to keep all men focused on the job with a high morale. I am a strong believer that in a system like ours, men matter most.

Russian aircraft maker Irkut will build a $5 billion plant in Malaysia, a newspaper reported on Friday, quoting Malaysia's defense minister.

The New Straits Times cited Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying the facility would cover research and development, design, manufacture of components and parts and maintenance services for the defence and aerospace industries.

A spokesman for the minister confirmed the newspaper report.

'In total, Irkut has entered into 28 memoranda of agreement with various local parties to produce locally, under licence, an array of parts and components not only for the Malaysian market but also for global requirements,' the paper quoted Zahid as saying.

It said the plant would be located in a technology park to be built in the northern state of Perak.

Sri Lanka Navy is participating at the Boat Show Sri Lanka 2010 which is being held at the Bandaranaike International Memorial Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo from the 24th to 26th April 2010. Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe attended the opening ceremony held on 24th April 2010 as the Guest of Honour.

Visitors to the Navy exhibition stall at the site are highly impressed by the Naval boats and craft on display. Under the direction of the Commander of the Navy, Naval engineers build its own boats and crafts today using there expertise and ingenuity in boat building to suit the Navy s own requirements saving the country millions of rupees in foreign exchange.

The Boat Show Sri Lanka 2010 has been organized by the Boat Building Technology Improvement Institute Lanka in association with the Ministry of Industrial Development and Sri Lanka Export Development Board.

The show is aimed at creating new opportunities for Sri Lankan Boat Industry to further develop its facilities and improve its standards. It attracts leading international manufacturers, buyers and industry experts.

The participating sectors include suppliers of leisure, industrial and commercial fishing vessels, material, engines, interior fixtures, fittings, electrical and electronic devices, navigation equipment, on board safety equipment, water sports gear and equipment, providers of services to industry and providers of training in boat building, sailing, navigation and seamen training.

The show has been drawing visitors in large numbers and the Navy s exhibition stall has been one of their major attractions.

The Navy has put on display the latest boats and craft manufactured by their innovative naval personnel and is displaying their excellence and potential in boat manufacturing techniques to the professionals in the field and the enthusiasts who admire innovative products. Its exhibits include Inshore Patrol Craft of Wave Rider Class, the Admiral s Barge manufactured for VVIP transportation, Arrow Boats used by Navy s elite boat squadrons SBS and RABS, Enterprises Type sailing boats and Kayaks.

The 'Boat Show Sri Lanka 2010', which commenced in Colombo on Saturday, had attracted leading international manufacturers, buyers and industry experts, the Managing Director of Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services, Arjun Dharmadasa said.

He told 'The Island' that the show was a good opportunity to build a strong network for the Sri Lankan boat industry.

'BSSL 2010 opened up new frontiers in leisure boating, marine, industrial and commercial vessels. It also positions Sri Lanka as a hub for international buyers and sellers to carry out productive deals.'

Dharmadasa said a conference held concurrently with BSSL 2010, had discussed the Emerging Boating Market in Sri Lanka and South Asia, Investment opportunities in Sri Lanka for Boat Building and Allied Industries such as Marinas, Yachting, etc and the Development of Tourism through the Boating Industry.

Director LECS, Imran Hassan said that this year s show was bigger with special emphasis on promoting leisure boating.

The Export Development Board had attracted buyers and sellers from Europe as well. Boats built by the Sri Lanka Navy, would also be on display, he said.

Manager, LECS Hussnie Rauff said 50 boat building companies displayed their products.

'The manufactured boats can be divided into two categories Sri Lankan built or built with foreign collaboration.'

Some boats, he said, were even cheaper than a car and BSSL 2010, hoped to promote boats as an alternative mode of transport.

The three-day event organised by LECS, in collaboration with BTI, EDB, NCE, Solas and Marine BizTV, concludes today (April 26),at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Exhibition Centre.