BY Dinitha Rathnayake
A large development project for the construction of a new entrance and exit of the Ratmalana Airport, at a cost of Rs. 220 million, will be inaugurated on Sunday (27).
Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga stated that with this opening, the docking capacity and runway efficiency of the Ratmalana Airport will increase by about 75%.
The construction will coincide with the resumption of international flights at the Ratmalana Airport. Arrangements have been made to resume international flights at the Ratmalana Airport from Sunday, after 55 years.
The Colombo-Maldives flights will be operated by Maldives Airlines and FITS Aviation.
There are also plans to build a local control centre and an air traffic control tower at the Ratmalana Airport with air navigation facilities. The relevant procurement process has been completed and construction is expected to commence soon.
Steps have been taken to modernise the existing terminal building at the airport and to upgrade it to accommodate regional international flights and international merchant aircraft.
Measures have also been taken to upgrade the airline hangar facilities at the Ratmalana Airport ,and one parking lot has already been completed.
The development project had been abandoned since 2015, and Minister Ranatunga noted that these activities commenced after the present Government came to power. He added that it is expected to expand the parking facilities at the Ratmalana Airport in the near future.
Meanwhile, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Pvt.) Ltd. has commenced ground handling at the Ratmalana Airport. SriLankan Airlines previously operated ground operations at the Ratmalana Airport.
Ratmalana Airport new entrance, exit project to begin on Sunday
24 Mar 2022
Ratmalana Airport new entrance, exit project to begin on Sunday
24 Mar 2022