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Government postpones Ratmalana Airport reopening

30 Jan 2022

  • Delay amidst technical difficulties at terminal
  • Plans to reopen mid-March
  • Maldivian Airlines and FitsAir already onboard
By Yakuta Dawood  The Government has postponed its previous plan to reopen the Colombo International Airport, Ratmalana from 29 January to mid-March 2022, due to technical difficulties encountered at the terminal.  Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Pvt.) Ltd. (AASL) Chairman Major General G.A. Chandrasiri revealed that the aircraft that were scheduled to be arriving at the Ratmalana Airport were big aircraft and as a result there were surveys that needed to be done.   “We have already worked out everything; the delay is only due to a technical error and we are working with the Survey Department to complete these surveys. Therefore, the entire process can take about one-and-a-half months and by then we will also get the final Aero Chrome Certificate,” Chandrasiri explained.  Further, he also revealed that so far two airlines had confirmed operations at the Ratmalana International Airport, namely Maldivian Airlines and FitsAir. Chandrasiri added that AASL was currently working on increasing the number of airlines, including private jets and chartered flights. The initial announcement of commencing operations was made by State Minister of Aviation and Export Zones Development D.V. Chanaka earlier in January. According to him, flights from South India, Malé, and Bangladesh via India to Ratmalana will operate from the Ratmalana Airport. The Ratmalana Airport was established in 1938, but regional international flights from the airport were suspended due to the commencement of flights from the Katunayake International Airport in 1968.  However, after the current Government came to power, plans were drawn up to develop the Ratmalana International Airport in several key areas. These include developing it as a local aviation hub, a recreational aviation centre, and an aviation training centre.  In addition, measures will be taken to promote private jets to Sri Lanka, targeting high-income earners, and to meet the requirements of technical parking services for private jets including jet refuelling. Furthermore, according to the Master Plan 2018–2030, the goal is to position the airport as an ‘exclusive gateway to Colombo’. “Colombo International Airport Ratmalana has great potential to contribute to the growth of the tourism industry in Sri Lanka. The long term strategic goal is to bring the airport to the optimum operational capacity by maximum utilisation of existing resources,” the Master Plan stated.  However, regardless of the closure of the airport due to the pandemic, the statistics reveal that a total of 2,539 passengers received air services from Ratmalana Airport as of 31 March 2022.  Accordingly, during this period 16,511 flights operated from Ratmalana Airport, out of which 432 were domestic flights. 10,332 flights were conducted for pilot training and 6,006 flights were conducted by the Sri Lanka Air Force. However, attempts to obtain the latest figures proved futile.   


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