Rs. 800 m for Batticaloa airport project

by Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Construction work to develop the Batticaloa domestic airport will be initiated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on September 3. The Government has decided to upgrade the airport following a proposal made in the 2012 Budget to develop the country’s domestic airports.

The facelift is estimated to cost Rs. 800 million which includes the construction of a 1,700 metre runway, access roads, flight landing areas and other development activities, Civil Aviation Minister Piyankara Jayaratne told the Sunday Observer.

It is estimated that Rs. 20 million will be spent on the passenger terminal which will be handled by the Sri Lanka Air Force and the Ministry will provide funds.

Construction will be supervised by the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited, the Minister said.

Development activities in Batticaloa and domestic airports in the country will be carried out in connection with the centenary celebrations of the civil aviation industry.

Once the construction of the Batticaloa domestic airport is completed, it will be utilised for military and civilian purposes.

The civilian side will be coordinated by the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited, he said.