Mini seaplane airport opens tomorrow

by Shirajiv SIRIMANE

Sri Lanka's first sea port landing facility will be opened tomorrow at the Dandugama River. The new mini seaplane landing airport could accommodate sea and float planes on wheels and have a wooden teak pier, passenger lounge to accommodate passengers and parking facilities to accommodate large tourist buses.

The facility was first planned to be built in a section of the Negombo Lagoon but the Government decided against it as fishermen in the area said that it may not be conducive to them. "We are planning to raise the standard of the mini sea plane airstrip to an international level and allow private operators to land here. We also hope that sea planes from other countries such as the Maldives would land here," Minister of Aviation, Priyankara Jayaratne, said. "We believe this would strengthen the country's tourism industry and attract up-market clientele."

In addition to SriLankan Airlines private operators could use this facility. At present SriLankan float planes land at 10 points and our aim is to increase this to 20 by the end of the year.