SriLankan Airlines wrapped up a successful, pioneer two-day workshop on airline operations for local journalists from 13 – 14 September 2023 in Katunayake, laying the groundwork for a new breed of aviation journalism. A first by an airline, the programme illustrated key operational functions including flight operations, engineering, inflight services, ground handling, aviation safety and civil aviation regulations for a 50-strong audience of news and business journalists from English, Sinhala and Tamil language press, radio, TV and digital media organizations.
The workshop was hosted at the SriLankan Aviation College in Katunayake, with the support of the college and close to a dozen internal and external resource persons representing the airline and aviation industry themes that were covered in the programme. The inauguration of the event was attended by the senior management of the airline including Chief Executive Officer, Richard Nuttall, who shared his thoughts on the present and future of aviation in the region.
Day one launched with a welcome and introduction speech by Manager Corporate Communications, Deepal Perera, which was followed by a virtual session on safety in aviation by Assistant Director, Operations, Safety and Security, Asia-Pacific, Capt. Jose Fernandez, and Head of Corporate Communications, Albert Tjoeng, from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The rest of the day’s sessions were delivered by internal resource persons Technical Pilot, Capt. Jayaska Baranage, on Flight Operations; Instructor, Evangeline Lappen, on Inflight Operations; Training and Capability Development Manager of SriLankan Engineering, Amila Fernando, on Engineering; and Airport Service Manager – Training & Development, Thereka Thilakawardena, on Ground Handling.
Day two commenced with a session on Safety and Crisis Management by Flight Safety Manager, Capt. Shavantha Pedris, and Crisis Management Manager, Prasadini Perera. Manager People Engagement and HR Support Services, Niroshan Ranawake, and Marketing & Business Development Manager, Jayani Senanayake, and Deputy General Manager, Kalinga Hiranya, of the SriLankan Aviation College also spoke on their areas of work. The in-class sessions rounded off with presentations by Deputy Director General (Air Transport & Security Regulation) of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, Rayhan Wanniappa, and Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka), Dr. Sumith de Silva.
The programme laid bare the basics of an airline and the aviation industry, and journalists heard it first-hand from the very experts that run things behind the scenes. For a pioneering effort, the workshop turned out to be a runway success with the participants commenting on how insightful the experience was.
SriLankan Airlines’ first Aviation Workshop for Journalists did not go without a tour of SriLankan’s 747 aircraft hangar, which also turned out to be a first for some of the participants, who enthusiastically snapped up photos. The day wrapped up with a closing session and all the journalists were awarded certificates of participation.
