Vision, political will and courage

Weerawila International Airport Project takes off

by Rohan Mathes

An International Airport in Southern Sri Lanka was a long-felt need for our island nation. The arid and desolate but resourceful lands in the deep South of Ruhuna, Weerawila was an ideal location for same. Successive governments echoed and re-echoed the dire necessity of constructing the airport in Weerawila, vis-a-vis the other recommended areas such as Hingurakgoda and Gannoruwa, elsewhere in the country. However, though the political leaders of a bygone era were obsessed with the concept, they lacked the vision, the political will and the courage for its implementation.

The project was again on the drawing boards and rhapsodised when the LTTE struck Katunayake International Airport in July/2001. Days, months and years passed and the status quo prevailed until a true son of Ruhuna, the Sri Rohana Janaranjana, President Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed office as the fifth executive President of Sri Lanka. President Rajapaksa had a vision and a mission as envisioned in his election manifesto the 'Mahinda Chintana' which is now a byword in Sri Lanka.

National development

'Mahinda Chintana'per se is a detailed programme of national development while simultaneously developing all regions of the country, encompassing the remotest villages in the poorest districts such as Hambantota, Moneragala and Polonnaruwa among others. The benefits and fruits of development should extend not only to the comparatively lucrative Western Province only, but also to every nook and corner of the country, hitherto neglected and in abject poverty, as far back as pre and post independence.

The citizens of 'Ruhunapura' were apparently 'thrown to the Bush', similar to how the 'Blacks' in South Africa were, in the 'Apartheid' era. They were starved and deprived of development for long, sans the basic amenities such as potable water, and infrastructural facilities such as roads. This situation had paved the way for massive youth unemployment and unrest, resulting in armed uprisings in the past.

It is in this context that Southern Sri Lanka, more popularly known as 'Ruhunupuraya' is to be benefitted by the proposed second international airport in Weerawila, along with the accompanying development projects such as the Hambantota sea port, Express Highway and the Oil Refinery among others.

As is the norm in this part of the globe since 1956, diverse groups and organisations have strongly reacted and expressed their dissent to the proposed mega Weerawila airport development project. Speculation ran high with arguments and counter arguments presented by lay as well as specialists in various spheres. It was quite evident that these misled groups and/or parties with vested interests, inclusive of predominantly Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Environmentalists and sections of the farming community, had campaigned irrationally. Their concerns had been illogical and virtually based on hearsay. The Government, on the directives of the President, was more than willing to view the humanitarian dimension and their related complications, in order to indemnify generously those effected and displaced, as a result of the proposed airport.

President Rajapaksa understanding well the formidable and challenging tasks ahead, had rightly identified the critical economic issues crippling the nation and their probable cures. He embarked on this epoch-making venture and laid the foundation stone for the long-awaited, proposed second International Airport at Weerawila, in accordance with his policy of "Harnessing the blue skies and the seas". The event coincided with President Rajapaksa's completion of one year in office, as the Executive President.

The Katunayake International Airport is the sole airport of its kind in Sri Lanka at present, and is one of the best and most sophisticated airports in South Asia. It is within an area of 490 hectares, and has the capability of handling around 100 to 120 aircrafts per day. Nonetheless this does not meet the needs of modern Sri Lanka today, in the backdrop of a globalised economy.

In the context of Sri Lanka being referred to as the 'pearl' of the Indian Ocean and the 'Silk Route', and a hive of activity in naval activities, sea transport, commerce and trade from time immemorial, the dire necessity of a second airport was obvious. Moreover, due to the non-availability of a second alternative international airport in Sri Lanka, aircraft destined for Katunayake Airport, had to be re-fuelled to capacity, to reach Chennai International Airport in India, in case it failed to land in Katunayake for some reason or the other, in exceptional circumstances.

Excellent location

Taking into account its geographical location and the 'wind factor', Weerawila virtually churned out to be the sine qua non location for the proposed airport. Nine Grama Sevaka`divisions within the area of Lunugamvehera and Hambantota and six Grama Sevaka divisions from Yahangala East have been acquired for the project. This land area encompasses 1150 hectares, inclusive of 825 paddy fields and 325 highlands. 374 families from ten hamlets ought to be evacuated in the process.Nevertheless, the families thus affected will not be left in the lurch. They would be duly compensated and cared for. President Rajapaksa himself made a visit to the villages concerned, in order to listen to their grievances and vindicate them accordingly.

The villagers concerned flocked around the President and assured their unstinted cooperation and solidarity for the worthy cause which undoubtedly would revolutionise their way of life and their posterity, which otherwise was destined for doom. The proposed airport will have an immense impact, directly as well as indirectly on the generation of around 10,000 odd jobs, development of tourism, industrial uplift and enhancement of foreign and local investment among others, which would in effect tantamount to rapid economic development in the region and the country as a whole.

Simultaneously, with the construction of the airport, those peasant families and others affected will be compensated. Rs 10 lakhs had been already allocated for same. The beneficiaries will be able to draw a monthly income of around Rs 8000 by this process. The Government has also agreed to pay Rs 42,000 per each paddy season, to the farmers who have been deprived of a harvest due to the proposed project. It has been agreed to allocate suitable lands for those whose lands have been acquired for the purpose. The Government will also provide the funds for the construction of houses for the victims.

Initially, the mega Weerawila International Airport project is to be constructed at a cost of US Dollars 125 million. Its modern 'Runway' is planned to be 4000 metres in length and 75 metres in breadth. It will include a 300 metre long, 60 metre broad 'Runway' for I.C.A.F. type aircraft landings as well. It will consist of modern car parks for the public and staff, main access roads, service roads and air side security perimeter roads.

It will also provide terminal facilities for 800 transit passengers both to and from Weerawila. Additionally, other infrastructural facilities and other peripherals expected of a state-of-the-art, modern international airport, will also be provided.The Airport will be equipped with the most sophisticated equipment incorporating the most modern technical know-how available today.

A unique and a salient feature of the whole process, will be the optimum use of indigenous expertise and resources, to minimise the loss of valuable and limited foreign exchange to the country, and thereby minimise the cost of the project as a whole.

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