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BIA expansion to take wing again?
By Apsara Kapukotuwa
Fresh moves are underway, once again, to expand the BIA and shift the Air Force base, The Sunday Times learns. Chairman of Airport Aviation Services Limited (AASL) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, said the AASL had handed over the new proposals in early March and he had heard that the proposals had been submitted for cabinet approval, but had not been officially informed so far.

"If we don't get a new runway, we will have to close down. The immediate need for a new runway is now more apparent than ever. About three weeks ago, we handed in alternate proposals. Cabinet had apparently approved it, but we haven't been officially informed yet. In the national interest, this would have to be done eventually."

The last time these controversial proposals came up was in 2002, and there was a lot of opposition, mainly from the residents of the area. The matter came to the forefront last time when the International Air Transport Association (IATA) set a December 31 2002 deadline for Sri Lanka to show, at least, proof of land acquisition for the expansion of the airport.

This was part of a macro plan to make Sri Lanka the hub of South Asia. IATA's request for a second runway came as far back as in 1996, which stipulated that any international airport required at least two runways, about two kilometres apart so that if there was an accident or any problem with one runway, planes could land on the other.

Various parties have reiterated the need for the expansion of the airport time and time again. Among the reasons cited have been the need to complete overlaying the runway by 2010 and providing the space for the operation of Airbus A380, the largest aircraft in the world, at least by 2008.

In the earlier project, the idea was to relocate the air force base to Sigiriya (this was in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attack on the airport in 2001)-however, this was dropped when environmentalists protested that the rock frescoes would suffer irreparable damage due to the exhaust fumes from air traffic. Former defence minister Tilak Marapana even threatened in the face of protests over the expansion, to close down the airport at Katunayake and build a new international airport with two runways at Horana, Avissawella or Kalutara.

However, according to the present proposals, only the relocation of certain sections of the Air Force base is envisioned. Mr. Hizbullah said about 650 hectares would have to be acquired from the surrounding areas and the residents would be relocated in Akkara 50 and Divulapitiya areas.Asked about the possibility of strong protests like before, Mr. Hizbullah said there was no option but to go ahead with the plans if approved by cabinet, for the sake of national interest.

However, when contacted by Sunday Times, Secretary to Ministry of Ports and Aviation, Ariyaratne Hewage said he was not aware of any such plans. "There's nothing like that. A study has been undertaken but it has not been finalized," he stated.

In 2002,when the expansion proposal came up residents were to be relocated in Katana and Seeduwa. UNP parliamentarian Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene, who is from the area said he was not aware of any new moves to start the project. "The present government is silent on the issue-I don't know of any moves in this regard at present," he said.

In 2002, along with Speaker Joseph Michael Perera, who represented the Ja-Ela area, Dr. Jayawardene worked to allay the fears of the residents in this regard. Summing up the views of many people in the area, a long-time resident of Kurana said each time the matter comes up, they have no one to turn to to voice their grievances.

"It's frustrating. Each time we think of renovating our house, someone comes along and says that the land might be acquired. We live on the land adjoining the Air force base and due to the constant speculation, we are wary of investing in more land," he said.

Some residents also claimed that expansion and renovation activities were seen around the airport premises at present. However, Air Force media officer Ajantha De Silva, regarding these latest proposals, he said they were not aware of any moves to shift or relocate the Air Force base.

"Nothing has been intimated to us yet. If there are such discussions about certain moves, it's taking place at a higher level. Sometime back, we did give our observations to the Ministry of Defence," he said.

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