Weerawila Airport ready by 2008

by Anura Maitipe

The Construction of proposed Weerawila International Airport will be inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa next week, Civil Aviation Authority sources told the Sunday Observer.

The proposed Airport will be constructed in a land area of 550 hectares and the length of tarmac of this Airport is four kilometres. This Airport will be accommodated landing space for 10 large Aircraft at a time. This will also consist of modern equipment and other facilities, sources added.

With the completion of this Airport, aircraft arrive in Sri Lanka will reach at Weerawila Airport for embarking and disembarking of passengers, re-fuelling and cargo handling. This project is scheduled to complete within two years, Sources said.

Under this project, over 70,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities will be created. Road network in the area will also be improved. The Colombo - Kataragama Railway line will also be connected to the new Airport. In addition, new hotels will come up and tourism industry in the country will greatly improved, sources said.

Meanwhile all the families evacuated the area allowing the new Airport to come up, will be provided with irrigated lands including drinking water and electricity and other necessary facilities. Compensations will also be paid according to the current value of the lands, sources said.