observer
 ONLINE


OTHER PUBLICATIONS


OTHER LINKS

Marriage Proposals
Classified
Government Gazette

Weerawila Airport project kicks off

President to inaugurate construction today

Construction work on the proposed Weerawila International Airport will be inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa today, Civil Aviation Authority sources told the Sunday Observer.

The proposed Airport will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.2 billion. The land area of this Airport is 1150 hectares, the length of the tarmac is 300 metres and its width is 60 metres.

This Airport will accommodate 10 large ICFA aircraft to land at a time. It will have the latest equipment and other modern facilities, the sources added.

With the completion of this Airport a large number of aircraft arriving in Sri Lanka will reach the Weerawila Airport for passengers to embark and disembark, re-fuelling aircraft and cargo handling. This project is scheduled to be completed by 2009, the sources said.

Under this project, over 70,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities will be created. The roads 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 be built and the tourism industry in the country will be greatly improved, sources said. Meanwhile, all families who evacuated the area to allow the new Airport to be built will be provided with irrigated lands along with drinking water, electricity and other facilities.

Compensation will also be paid according to the current market value of the lands, sources said.

The country has only one international airport. Lack of an alternative airport is much felt right through the past.

Therefore, it was decided to construct a second international Airport at Weerawila, a press release issued by the President's office stated.

Even after development by several stages, the extent of Katunayake airport is only 490 hectares. Despite the fact that it is well equipped with modern facilities, the number of planes which could be accommodated at a time is limited to 25.

The number of planes operated per day from this airport is approximately 120. Those are the salient factors which led to the decision of constructing the second international airport at Weerawila. Nine GS divisions within the area of Lunugamvehera and Hambantota and eight GS divisions from Yahangala East have been taken over for the construction of this airport, the release said.

President Mahinda Rajapksa on a recent visit to the villages concerned, met the people in the affected areas, and afforded them an opportunity to air their grievances.

The people who gathered around President, expressed in a single voice that they are fully dedicated to the proposed airport project which would help the progress of the area and that of their posterity.

Those who will be affected due to acquisition of land will be amply compensated, the President said. Besides, the government has agreed to pay compensation of Rs. 42,000 per each paddy season which the farmers would be deprived to as a result of this project.

Meanwhile the President has given directives to provide alternative lands to those who would opt to do so the release said.

[email protected]
 

EMAIL |   PRINTABLE VIEW | FEEDBACK

Gamin Gamata - Presidential Community & Welfare Service
Sri Lanka
TENDER NOTICE - WEB OFFSET NEWSPRINT - ANCL
www.srilankans.com
www.peaceinsrilanka.org
www.army.lk
www.news.lk
www.defence.lk
www.helpheroes.lk/
 

| News | Editorial | Financial | Features | Security | Spectrum | Impact | Sports | World | Magazine | Junior | Letters | Obituaries |

 
 

Produced by Lake House Copyright � 2006 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

Comments and suggestions to : Web Editor