Sri Lankan government to pass legislation on air transport giving effect to the Montreal Conventions
The Cabinet of Ministers in Sri Lanka has reportedly granted approval to the proposed Air Transport Bill, which will give effect to the Montreal Conventions and deals with conforming to international standards and rules on international carriage of passengers, baggage and cargo.
A Cabinet paper on the matter has noted that the Montreal Convention that has been ratified by 112 countries protects the interests of passengers by introducing a modern two-tier liability system and by facilitating the swift recovery of proven damages without the need for lengthy litigation.
According to reports, air carriers on the other hand, will be able to achieve substantive operational savings through the use of electronically produced and simplified documents (tickets) of carriage, especially (Airway bills) in the cargo field, and the ability to manage risks more efficiently.
Following Cabinet approval the Transport and Civil Aviation Minister is now scheduled to present the legislation to Parliament for enactment.
OSL take:
The Sri Lankan government’s decision to pass legislation on air transport to give effect to the Montreal Conventions is a positive development in the country’s aviation industry. It would ensure that the Sri Lanka n aviation sector will be on par with the best international practices. The government is also focused on developing its domestic aviation sector and the 2018 Budget has proposed the construction of several domestic airports in country as well. Therefore, investors could consider the opportunities in the country’s aviation industry.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20180226/Z_3 |