The International Aviation Academy (IAA), the training arm of SriLankan Airlines, will shortly begin programmes in the Maldivian capital, Male, a significant expansion of its services to the South Asian region.

Diploma courses will initially be offered in two fields - Passenger Handling Management; and Air Cargo; with a non-Diploma programme in Dangerous Good Regulations. Classes will be conducted in Male by the Academy’s IATA-accredited instructors.

Sanjeeva Jayatilleke, Manager Human Resources at SriLankan Airlines, said: “This is an important step in the IAA’s vision of becoming the premier centre for aviation-related learning in South Asia. We view it as a natural progression since SriLankan has long been the largest carrier in the Maldives, and actively promotes Sri Lanka and the Maldives as dual destinations for global tourists, together with tourism authorities in both countries.”

The IAA offers seven programmes for external students at its main centre at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake, a short distance from the Sri Lankan capital Colombo. Apart from the three courses offered in the Maldives, it has courses in Aircraft Weight & Balance; ICAO 201 Flight Dispatcher Programme; Baggage Handling; and Airline Cabin Crew Training.

Fiona Elias, Senior Executive Operations & Business Promotions at the IAA, said: “Up to now, youngsters in the Maldives who wanted to pursue any type of career in aviation had to incur tremendous costs to travel overseas for training, including airfare and accommodation. The IAA is now bringing opportunities to their doorstep at a fraction of the cost of similar programmes in Europe or Singapore.”

Participants are tested in different subjects at the end of each module within each programme and receive Diplomas upon completion of the entire course.

SriLankan, with a long tradition in aviation training, last year launched the IAA to cater to the manpower requirements of airlines, airports, travel agents, and other aviation industry organizations throughout Asia and beyond. It also aims to play a pivotal role in the development of tertiary professional education in the South Asian region, by providing young men and women with the necessary skills to embark on lucrative and successful careers in the industry in their own countries and overseas.

The IAA has partnerships with many prestigious institutions such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Asian Institute of Technology, City & Guilds, Edexcel International, the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants of the United Kingdom (CIMA-UK), and the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICA). The IAA is also providing training for member organizations of the Travel Agents’ Association of Sri Lanka, and the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators.

Further details on the IAA’s programmes can be obtained at www.srilankan.aero/IAA or contact Fiona Elias at (94) 1-9733-2044/ IAA@srilankan.aero.

February 19th, 2007