With the view of improving the domestic aviation industry in Sri Lanka, by providing better infra-structure facilities in order to attract tourists from foreign countries and local passengers IWS Aviation inaugurated their new Aerodrome with Helicopter servicing facility at Welisara.
PIX BY KITHSIRI DE MELBell 505 jet Ranger XThe Canadian made sophisticated Bell 505 jet Ranger X, was demonstrated at the launch.
The inauguration ceremony of the facility built at a cost of Rs.200 million was held on November 14, 2018, at Welisara chaired by IWS Aviation Chairman Arthur Senanayake with the participation of Major General G.R.H. Dais Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, A.M. Jaufer, President, Chamber of Tourism and Industry, N.M. Ameen Senior Journalist and several others.
Speaking at the ceremony Chairman IWS Arthur Senanayake said that the facility has been built to the international standard to cope with the growing domestic and regional Air travel industry. He said that this is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka and that it will serve foreign air travel operators for servicing and demonstration such as the one held for Bell 505.
He further said that the companies using the facility which is accredited by international air travel operators pay in foreign currency. Plans are underway to set up a Helicopter school in the near future with a Swiss company where local and foreign youth will be enlisted for training. There are no Helicopter schools in operation in our region and the closest available is in Japan and the UK. He told that if the government takes necessary steps to wave off VAT on air travel it would be beneficial for the industry.
