Resume

DR. RUWANTISSA I. R. ABEYRATNE

Professional Experience Educational Qualifications Membership in Professional bodies Personal data

Coordinator, Air Transport Programmes Suite 1134,  Air Transport Bureau, International Civil Aviation Organization, 999 University Street, Montreal H3C 5H7 Quebec, Canada

 
 

COORDINATOR, AIR TRANSPORT PROGRAMMES

International Civil Aviation Organization
Montreal, Quebec
Canada

From 1 April 2003 to date

AIR TRANSPORT OFFICER

International Civil Aviation Organization
Montreal, Quebec
Canada

From 1 September 1994 to 1 April 2003

Responsible for co-ordination of various programmes of the Air Transport Bureau. Assist in the administration of the Bureau's work and its environment related activities as well as with relations with other Bureaux, regional offices, regional civil aviation bodies, the United Nations specialised agencies and other international organizations, on air transport and environmental matters.

TECHNICAL OFFICER, Facilitation

International Civil Aviation Organization
Montreal, Quebec
Canada

From 2 April 1990 to 1 September 1994

Monitoring and publishing of details relating to Annex 9 to the Chicago Convention and implementing provisions thereof. Work related to ICAO facilitation area meetings, co-ordination of facilitation action by regional aviation organizations - including the drafting of FAL Mission Briefs - facilitation and accessibility of air transport to elderly and disabled passengers, introduction of machine readable passports, visas, and crew member licences to the international aviation community, and the implementation of ICAO's policies on taxation relating to international air transport are some of the areas that come under the purview of the incumbent.

The above tasks were accomplished with the use of computer software DBASE 1V and Wordperfect 6.

CONCURRENTLY,

SECRETARY, Advisory Joint Appeals Board

International Civil Aviation Organization
Montreal, Quebec
Canada

Secretary to the Appeals Board of ICAO, which is charged with the hearing of appeals of employees aggrieved by administrative decisions of the Organization.
 

CHAIRMAN, Advisory Joint Appeals Board

From March 2000 to date

CHIEF CO-ORDINATOR, MANAGER INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Air Lanka Limited, Sri Lanka

From 11 September 1989 to 7 May 1990

As Chief Co-ordinator of Air Lanka, all management projects of the airline came under the supervision of the incumbent.  In addition, all official communication between the Chairman's Secretariat and government ministries were handled by the incumbent.

Concurrently, as Manager, International Relations, the incumbent was in overall charge of all bilateral air services agreements of the airline and matters relating to air traffic rights of the Government of Sri Lanka. All movements of foreign carriers into Colombo, Sri Lanka and commercial and  legal implications thereof came under the incumbent's purview, together with contract administration with regard to commercial aviation in Sri Lanka.  As Manager, International Relations, the incumbent advised the Government Sri Lanka and the Director of Civil Aviation on all matters relating to aviation in Sri Lanka and led delegations of Air Lanka delegations on bilateral air services negotiations between Air Lanka and other carriers.

MANAGER,  INTERNATIONAL  RELATIONS  AND  INSURANCE,

Air Lanka Limited, Sri Lanka

From August 1985 to September 1989

Head of international relations and insurance of the airline, reporting direct to the Chairman/Managing Director.  In overall charge of all matters pertaining to international affairs of the company, including but not limited to bilateral air services agreements between the government of Sri Lanka and other contracting States and between Air Lanka and other airlines.  Solely responsible for the preparation of briefs for the above mentioned negotiations.  Delegate at all bilateral air services consultations both at airline level and at government level.  Such duties as were connected to the monitoring of airline operations of all airlines into, through and beyond Colombo, advising the Directorate if Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka of updated details of aviation in Sri Lanka and overseas also came within the purview of the incumbent's functions.

Participant in all negotiations for pool agreements, interline pro-rate agreements, joint venture agreements and ground handling agreements of the company.  These agreements were drafted and vetted by the incumbent.  In addition, all insurances of movable and immovable properties of the airline including all liabilities and personal insurances were negotiated and procured solely by the incumbent for the airline.  These insurances related to all aircraft, hull, liabilities and war risk insurances, deductible insurance, marine insurance, pilots' loss of licence insurances, all vehicle insurances and property insurances of the airline including all buildings, hangar, engineering workshops etc.  Personnel insurances covering personal accident were also obtained by the incumbent who was also responsible for the settling of aviation claims under the Warsaw system covering passenger, baggage and cargo claims.

CONCURRENTLY,

VISITING LECTURER IN INSURANCE LAW

Faculty of Law,
University of Colombo,
Sri Lanka

Functioned as special visiting lecturer and examiner in the post graduate diploma course in private law.

Also, LECTURER IN AVIATION

Chartered Institute of Transport (Cit) (Sri Lanka)

from August 1985 to August 1989

SENIOR  LEGAL  EXECUTIVE

Air Lanka Limited, Sri Lanka

From July 1983 to August 1985

Deputy head of the legal department of the company, handling all legal matters pertaining to the airline including but not limited to all matters of international law and insurance law.  Prepared negotiatory briefs for bilateral air services talks for the Government of Sri Lanka and also for the company at airline discussions.  Mandatory delegate at all bilateral air services negotiations and consultations.  Drafted, vetted and signed legal agreements for and on behalf of the company.

CONCURRENTLY,

VISITING  LECTURER  AND  UNIT  AUTHOR,

Department of Law,
Open University of Sri Lanka

Visiting lecturer in public administrative law and the law relating to public corporations in the LL.B programme of the Open University of Sri Lanka.  Co-authored text book on  public administrative law for the Open university programme.

LEGAL  EXECUTIVE

Air Lanka Limited, Sri Lanka

From November 1982 to July 1983

Assisted the Head of the Legal Department of the company in all legal affairs pertaining to the functions of the airline.  Conducted necessary research and changed the already existing airline passenger ticket and baggage check and the air waybill of Air Lanka Air Lanka.

GRADUATE  RESEARCH  ASSISTANT

Faculty of Law

Monash University
Victoria, Australia

From December 1981 to December 1982

Conducted research on property laws  of Australia which was later included in a book published by Butterworths (Syd) on the law of property of Australia.

STAFF  LIBRARIAN

Faculty of Law,
Monash University
Victoria, Australia

From July 1979 to July 1980

Was in overall charge of the Staff Library of the Monash University Law School.
 

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EDUCATIONAL  QUALIFICATIONS

1.    DEGREE  OF  DOCTOR  OF  CIVIL  LAWS (DCL)

McGill University
Montreal, Canada

Thesis Topic: Legal and Regulatory Aspects of the Unlawful Interference with Civil Aviation

2.    DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PH.D)

University of Colombo
Sri Lanka

Thesis Topic: Parallel Synergies of Computer Reservations Systems and Code Sharing Agreements in Air Transport

3.    DEGREE  OF  MASTER  OF  LAWS (LL.M)

Monash University
Victoria, Australia
(1979 - 1982)
Awarded in 1982

Course work:
 

International air law
Air law
Maritime law
Environmental law
Japanese law


Thesis Topic: Manufacturers' Liability for Mental Distress Caused by Defective Products in The USA
 

4.    DEGREE  OF  BACHELOR  OF  LAWS  (LL.B) Internal candidate

University of Colombo
Sri Lanka
Awarded in 1978

Secretary Law Students Union, University of Colombo, 1975/76
 

5.    GENERAL  CERTIFICATE  OF  EDUCATION  (G.C.E.)  ADVANCED  LEVEL

Sri Lanka 1972 - 1973
St. Joseph's College,
Colombo 10,
Sri Lanka

Subjects:
 

	English	B	(65% - 85%)
	Logic	B	(65% - 85%)
	Sinhalese	B	(65% - 85%)
	Economics	C	(55% - 75%)

6.    GENERAL  CERTIFICATE  OF  EDUCATION  (G.C.E.)  ORDINARY  LEVEL

 
Sri Lanka 1969 - 1970
St. Joseph's College,
Colombo 10,
Sri Lanka

Subjects:
 

	Pure Mathematics	Distinction
	Applied Mathematics	Distinction
	Physics	Distinction
	English	Distinction
	Chemistry	Credit
	Sinhalese	Credit
	Biology	Pass
	Christianity	Pass

7.    DIPLOMA IN PIANOFORTE MUSIC

Trinity College of Music
London, 1967

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MEMBERSHIPS IN PROFESSIONAL BODIES

 

Royal Aeronautical Society	Fellow (FRAeS)
Chartered Institute of Transport	Fellow  (FCIT)
International Law Association (ILA)	Member
International Trade Law Committee (ILA)	Member
International Space Law Committee (ILA)	Member
British Association ofAviation Consultants	Member (MBAC)
McGill Association of Air and Space Law	Member
The International Institute of Space Law	Member



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PERSONAL DATA

Full Name:	Ruwantissa Indranath Ramya Abeyratne
Sex:	Male
Civil Status:	Married, two children (male)
Office:	Suite 1134 Air Transport Bureau International Civil Aviation Organization 999 University Street, Montreal  H3C 5H7 Quebec, Canada
Telephone:	(514) 954 6732
Fax:	(514) 954 6744
E-mail	tabeyratne@icao.int
Residential Address:	Le Parc, 3450 Rue Drummond, #1415B Montreal H3G 1Y2, Quebec, Canada
Telephone:	(514) 844 6242
E-mail	tissaabe@total.net

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