Domestic airports in Kandy, N'Eliya

by Uditha KUMARASINGHE

The Civil Aviation Ministry has decided to set up two domestic airports in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, as set out under the Mahinda Chinthana vision for the future to develop Sri Lanka as an aviation hub. Aviation Minister Piyankara Jayaratne had held discussions with Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake and other Government officials to establish domestic airports in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. A land in Kundasale has already been identified to set up the domestic airport in Kandy.

A committee which comprises the Ministry's Secretary and other senior officials has been appointed to identify a suitable land and submit a report to set up the airport in Nuwara Eliya, Minister Jyaratne told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has also laid emphasis on the re-commencement of domestic flight operations to the Eastern Province due to the peaceful atmosphere in the country. Three domestic airports in Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee will be fully modernised to conduct flight operations in a more efficient manner.