Weerawila Airport project kicks off
President to inaugurate construction today
by Anura Maitipe
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.
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