Shaping future of regional aviation in Sri Lanka

AS Sri Lanka seeks to revive its tourism sector and modernise its aviation landscape, Valamka Group is positioning itself at the centre of this transformation. Led by Chairman Emmanuel Dubuisson, the strategic consultancy firm is bringing together international aviation players to explore new opportunities in sustainable air travel and high-end service.

- By Divya THOTAWATTE

Dubuisson recently sat with Daily FT and outlined Valamka’s plans to lead its Asia operations from Colombo, tapping into local potential while addressing longstanding industry gaps in perception, safety, and premium service. He was joined by Ecojet CEO Brent Smith and Airline Management Group (AMG) Director Ben Leon. With their new partnership, they share a vision of redefining Sri Lanka’s aviation with zero-emission technology, global best practices, and a commitment to long-term industry growth.

Can you tell us about what Valamka Group does and the kind of industries you work with?

Dubuisson: Valamka is a French multinational group specialised in strategic consultancy and in developing ethical business economic systems. Valamka includes various brands and companies such as Valamka Conseil and are active in different fields such as aviation, strategic partnership development, and critical risk management in specific environments.

My personal background in aviation and strategic consultancy started over 20 years ago and led me to work and live in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, North America, and Asia-Pacific, and we are currently looking to establish our Asian consultancy operations here.

Why did Valamka Group choose Sri Lanka to lead its Asia operations?

Dubuisson: The choice of Sri Lanka is not random. The name Valamka combines the two places that are most important to me in my history: the village where my adoptive parents’ family has lived for over 600 years in France, and my country of birth, Sri Lanka.

The other factors are that many things are changing and moving in Sri Lanka currently, so I feel this is a good time to come and bring this new know-how to Sri Lanka.