Govt-Air Force dispute over management of domestic airports
The government has made a policy decision to transform domestic airports run by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) for civilian operations but the Batticaloa facility which was recently re-furnished at a cost of Rs. 1 billion to be re-opened today – is still under military control. The opening is expected to be graced by President Maithripala Sirisena while the Transport and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva, under whose purview civilian airports come, is a doubtful attendee due to the issue of the SLAF not handing over the airport.
A few months back on May 15, the Cabinet decided to hand over the SLAF base at Batticaloa for civilian operations to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Following this decision a gazette notification was issued dated July 1 stating that the Batticaloa airport has been handed over to the CAA with effect from May 31. But the airforce continues to control the airport and all invitations for the re-opening were sent by the SLAF with the CAA, owners of the airport, also among the invitees.
Transport and Aviation Ministry Secretary Nihal Somaweera told the Business Times on Friday that other than the two international airports, the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), and Ratmalana airport all other regional airports were run by the SLAF, but now the government wants them to be converted to civilian airports, He noted that in a bid to promote the local aviation industry, the government wanted the ministry to take over Batticaloa and some other airports for tourism development.
The Ministry had called for tenders to construct a terminal building and other renovation work of the airport for which the SLAF was awarded the tender since it was the lowest bidder. The Road Development Authority (RDA) was previously awarded the contract to carry out construction and renovation work however; this was stalled since the bid was too high. As a result the Minister had sought Cabinet approval to continue the rest of the work under his ministry with 80 per cent of the work already completed.
The RDA is learnt to have carried out work on the ground preparation for the renovation of the airport’s taxiway and runway. Ministry Secretary Somaweera, when asked whether this continue under military control or operative as a civilian airport, said they had to work out some “arrangement” regarding this issue. The gazette regulations and a cabinet decision clearly reveal that the airport should have been handed over to civilian authorities some months back. However another problemis that the CAA is yet to certify the airport ready for civil operations, it is learnt.
| “We will run the airport,” says SLAF spokesman Work at the airport was accelerated with a view to opening it prior to the commencement of the UNWTO conference scheduled to take place in Passikudah (next week), Air Force spokesman Group Captain Chandima Alwis told the Business Times. | |