Hambantota International Airport ready by 2012:

Pledges, a reality with Mahinda Chintana

By Shirajiv Sirimane

The first stage would include the building of Sri Lanka’s longest runway (3500m) and parking bay for 10 aircraft, two aero bridges and other related buildings. The employment generation is another key aspect that would help to bring property to the region that also includes the Eastern province. Over 2,000 direct and 20, 000 indirect opportunities await youth in the region.

Broken promises and pledges made at the elections have been confined to mere words and forgotten.

History still recalls the famous promises such as pledge of bringing rice from the moon, providing eight grains (Eta Ata), promises of ending the war and most recently giving gold bracelets and creating a chewing gum eating culture.

People were fooled over and over again and at a time when voters were losing faith, the election promises ‘Mahinda Chintana’ was introduced and with it promises were converted to action and many development projects not only got off the ground but are also being opened.

The Mahinda Chintana clearly said that the war would be ended and that was done on May 18 last year after a 30-year-period.

The Hambantota harbour project was first mentioned in parliament in 1951 by Member of Parliament, D. M. Rajapaksa and it was made a reality last year. Likewise Norochcholai coal power plant project too was confined to the drawing boards of Ministers and now it is to be opened on November 17.

Airlines flying to Sri Lanka were carrying additional fuel and were also taking a risk in doing so. Due to this factor, flying to Sri Lanka is considered a costly affair and some airlines even went to the extent of taking this additional expenditure off the passenger.

International map

More airlines want to include Sri Lanka to their international map while the others want to add additional frequencies. However heavy traffic in Colombo airport has put a check to these plans.

With five international harbours simultaneously being developed in line with the Mahinda Chintana Sri Lanka was slowly but surely transforming itself into a maritime hub for the region. To reap maximum benefits of this situation Sri Lanka also needed to rapidly develop its status as an aviation hub and for this a second international airport was a priority.

This long overdue second international airport too was under discussion for nearly two decades with Hingurakgoda, Mathugama, Wellawaya and most recently Weerawila being in the limelight.

Work in progress at HIA

However, after doing many feasibility studies Weerawila in Hambantota was selected as the venue to transform this dream to a reality.

In deference to the requests of the farmers and environmentalists the venue was shifted to Mattala as it did not need to relocate a single family.

The Hambantota International Airport (HIA) would be the cynosure of all eyes when it would become one of the speedily completed airports in world aviation history with the scheduled opening by end of 2012. Construction began on November 27 last year.

The Chinese Government provides financial assistance and technical know how for this much needed project. The area allocated for the airport is 2,000 hectares.

Construction on schedule

Chairman Airport and Aviation Services Prasanna Wickramasuriya said that construction work is on schedule and he is confident of meeting the deadline.

“We are positioning this airport to attract 60 percent for cargo and the balance for passenger movements,” he said.

A container yard, warehouse facilities and an industrial park too would be built in a nearby area so that it could serve the airport and the Hambantota harbour which is located just 20 miles away from the site.

The HIA would also be linked to the Hambantota harbour through a rail link and a highway.

In addition leisure activates too would be introduced making the venue an airport city. The HIA would also be a major incentive for the ongoing international conventions centre, Ranmihitenna, and the international stadium and also would help in the bid to host the Commonwealth Games in Hambantota in four years time.

The first stage would include the building of Sri Lanka’s longest runway (3500m) and parking bay for 10 aircraft, two aero bridges and other related buildings.The employment generation is another key aspect that would help to bring property to the region that also includes the Eastern province. Over 2,000 direct and 20, 000 indirect opportunities await youth in the region.

Namal’s active role

The AASL reading the future well ahead of time has already started conducting awareness programs and training in the region. “MP, Namal Rajapaksa too is taking an active role in this regard,” he said.

Colombo too developed

The Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) formerly known as Colombo Airport built by the British in the mid 1940’s is also undergoing a major transformation. Today BIA services 23 airlines from 46 routes and from 46 countries. It has 2,400 monthly scheduled flights.

BIA could accommodate six million passengers per annum and this is to be increased to meet the target of 2.5 million tourist arrivals by 2015. A new terminal, hotel and other infrastructure would be built while it would also be connected to the proposed Colombo-Katunayake highway.

Domestic airports

Domestic airports have a similar history which extend up to 70 years including the exceptional water runway of Koggala.

Today Ampara, Palali and Trincomalee domestic airports are being developed with regular scheduled flights already operating and Ratmalana airport is to be converted to a city airport. “Sri Lanka has a total of 14 domestic airports and all would be developed,” he said.

He also said the two Deputy Ministers, Rohitha Abeygunawardane and Dayasritha Tissera are playing an active role in the development of the aviation industry in Sri Lanka.

Today a passenger from Matara can take a train to any destination from either Fort or Maradana and the future aviation in Sri Lanka too would be similar to this. The first step would be between Colombo to Jaffna, Ratmalana and Mattala.

Sri Lanka is building a strong platform to be the ‘Wonder of Asia’ and the role played by the aviation sector would be one of the strongest pillars of this platform to take the country to even greater heights.