It has been decided to start air ambulance service between Maldives and Katunayake Airport from March 1.
This step has been taken as the first phase of the related program with the attention of the two countries on starting an air ambulance service that needs to come to Sri Lanka urgently to receive treatment due to accidents and illnesses occurring to the people living in the Maldives.
This was discussed when the Minister of Transport and Aviation of Maldives, Mr. Captain Mohamed Amin and the Minister of Ports, Navigation and Air Services, Mr. Nimal Siripala de Silva met at the minister’s office yesterday (30) morning.
The Maldivian Aviation Minister said that so far Maldivian citizens have been taken to India for emergency treatment.
However considering the quality of emergency treatment in Sri Lanka, the Maldivian government has decided to send such patients to Sri Lankan hospitals for treatment in the future.
Thus, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has given all necessary approvals to the authorities of the Airport and Civil Aviation Authority for the activities related to the Air Ambulance Service.
For that purpose, Ministry Secretary Mr. KDS Ruwanchandra was instructed to establish a special unit at Katunayake Airport and to provide all necessary facilities for that unit.
In this discussion, it was also decided to start a similar service between Ratmalana Airport and Male.
