SIX DOMESTIC AIRPORTS TO BE DEVELOPED

Minister wants expert committee report on Digana Airport

Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said he had requested an expert committee report over the possibility of continuing the construction of Digana domestic airport, on which the government had already spent Rs.197 million.

He said that he had also instructed the committee to submit a report regarding actions to be taken after conducting a comprehensive feasibility study on the construction of the Digana domestic airport, which has been initiated by the previous Government.

A special meeting was held yesterday between the Minister, Ministry officials, officials of the Civil Aviation Authority and Sri Lanka Air Force to discuss the

The Civil Aviation Authority and the Tourist Board had agreed to provide funds to develop the Palaly airport runway with the landing facilities for large aircraft such as A 320

development of six domestic airports in the country.

During the meeting, they had discussed a strategic plan to use domestic airports in Ratmalana, Batticaloa, Sigiriya, Palaly, Koggala and Digana for civil aviation services in an effective manner.

Minister Silva said that development of the Palaly domestic airport should not be given to any foreign country.

He said the Civil Aviation Authority and the Tourist Board had agreed to provide funds to develop the Palaly airport runway with the landing facilities for large aircraft such as A 320.

Meanwhile, the Minister said 25 acre land from the land of the Ratmalana Airport would be obtained from the Sri Lanka Air Force to provide infrastructure facilities for civil aviation operations.

The Minster also instructed the officials to expedite the construction work of the Sigiriya Airport runway and also to develop the Koggala Domestic Airport runway.