Palali airport brought under Aviation Ministry

by Shirajiv SIRIMANE

The Ministry of Aviation has been entrusted with the task of managing the Palali domestic airport.

The new Minister of Aviation Priyankara Jayaratne said a discussion in this regard was held between top officials of the Defence Ministry and the Ministry of Aviation.

"We will manage the airport while facilitating the interests of the Air Force," he said.

Jayaratne said they will consider the Palali airport on a commercial basis and introduce infrastructure that will be beneficial for passengers. He said they will also talk with other stakeholders such as the Ministry of Tourism to convert this airport into a comprehensive commercial airport.

The Minister said they would rapidly develop the Ratmalana airport to make it an international airport where charter aircraft and mini aircraft could land. "We would consider re-introducing a Customs and duty free facility to cater to international traffic," he said.

Commenting on SriLankan Airlines, Jayaratne said that under the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, they are planning to purchase six new aircraft next year.

"Our aim is to invade the European market," he said.

In addition, this will also strengthen the SriLankan transit market and help make the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) a regional hub."

The BIA would also get additional infrastructure including a new airport hotel, a domestic terminal and a railway station inside the airport.

The Minister also disclosed that SriLankan airlines has already obtained one air taxi and the second one would be brought down early next year.

"We will use this 17-seater aircraft to fly passengers to Jaffna, Trincomalee, Puttalam, Koggala, Victoria, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Hambantota and other destinations when their services are required," he said.

The service would be operational from January.