News
India to develop Palaly as regional airport
View(s):
India is carrying out a feasibility study on the Palaly airport to assess its suitability to be utilised as a regional airport.
This airport is now a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF)-run facility and is used for military and civilian flights in Sri Lanka.
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) is now carrying out a feasibility study on the Palaly airport to see how it could be developed, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General H.M.C. Nimalsiri told the Sunday Times. About four months ago, an AAI team visited Palali to ascertain how the airport could be developed as a regional airport, he said.
India has already supported the development of the Palaly airport, providing financial assistance for the reconstruction of about 1,000 metres of the existing 2,300-metre runway.This was done in 2010 on an agreement between the former Mahinda Rajapaksa government and India.
The AAI’s feasibility report on Palali is expected to be submitted to the Sri Lankan Government soon. Mr. Nimalsiri stressed that if Palaly was to be developed as a regional airport, it would then come under the CAA while the Airport Aviation Services Ltd. would carry out airport operations.