Two New Domestic Airports in Srilanka This Year

The Srilanka Government has decided to establish four more domestic Airports in Kandy, Trincomale, Bandarawela and Palavi in Srilanka. Out of  these four proposed domestic airports construction work would be commenced this year in Bandarawela and Palavi, Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation confirmed it. Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva visited the Nayabadda Estate in Bandarawela  recently, where one of airports is to be constructed.

The airport, with a run-way length of 1.5km and a width of 20 metres, is to be constructed at a cost of Rs.1.3 billion. It would also include a small terminal building and a controlling tower. The construction is expected to be completed within a year.

The airport will be constructed  on a  75 acres of  land which belongs to the Janatha Estate Development Board. The new airport will have the  capacity of a maximum of 45 passenger  carrying aircraft landing and taking off..

The feasibility report will be finalized after the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) visits the location for inspection.

Earlier plan  to build an airport in Haputale was abandoned due to technical reasons. Later the locationwas shifted   to Bandarawela.

The Ministry expects to construct four domestic airports in Kandy, Palavi, Trincomalee and Bandarawela.

“Once the construction of the airports is completed, they would be operated under a public–private partnership,” the ministry said.